P.S. You’re Intolerable (The Harder They Fall)

ELLIOT LEFT BEFORE JOEY and I got out of bed, whispering goodbye to me and pecking my cheek. He had his routine, meeting Weston and Luca at the gym most mornings and rarely deviated from it. It was something I admired about him, along with his magic dick and incomparable mouth skills.

I learned something else about Elliot last night: he cuddled. He fell asleep beside me, but as soon as he’d passed out, he’d thrown his arm around me and pulled me close. I hadn’t thought I’d be able to sleep like that, but the next thing I knew, it was morning, and I wasn’t a walking zombie yet again.

So, when I passed Joey-Girl to Freddie and ventured into the kitchen to make breakfast, I was in a pretty great mood. Seeing the note waiting for me on the counter made it even better.

Catherine,

We’re having lunch together today. Write it on my schedule. If I have an appointment, reschedule it. In fact, reschedule all my lunch appointments from now on.

Please.

There’s an iced coffee waiting for you in the refrigerator.

Yours,

Elliot

P.S. You are a hardcore cuddler. No sense of personal space at all. I liked it.

Laughing, I tucked his note away with the others. If that was the narrative he was going with, I’d let him. I knew the truth. Elliot Levy was the cuddler. That was going in today’s postscript.

Elliot took me to lunch. I hadn’t allowed him to reschedule all of his lunchtime appointments—mostly because it would have been me doing all the legwork—but now, I was questioning myself. Sharing a baby-free meal with him had been nice. Really nice. And now we were walking back to the office together.

And he was holding my hand.

I wiggled my fingers between his. “We should really stop this.”

He clamped down on my hand. “Why would we do that?”

“Because we’re almost back to the office and might see people we know.”

“And?”

I huffed. “And…there will be questions.”

“Are you worried you won’t have answers?”

I wiggled my fingers again. “I’m not worried, but I am private.”

“Hmmm. All right. We don’t have to hold hands.” He dropped my hand only to wind his arm around my waist. “Better?”

“Yes. That made a huge difference.” Laughing, I shoved him, but there was no strength behind it. “You need to not be touching me. I have to get back in work mode.”

He sighed heavily, letting go. “Am I allowed to walk beside you? Or will people think we know each other?”

“Actually, now that you mention it, if you could just walk a few paces ahead…”

Grumbling, he shot me a grumpy glare, and I giggled.

I was still laughing when a man stepped into our path. “Where do you get off, Levy?”

Before I could process what was happening, Elliot’s arm shot out, shuffling me behind him. He didn’t cut off my line of sight, though. I took in the angry man who’d obviously been waiting outside the building for us. Gavin looked nothing like the jokey, carefree man I’d met on the Rockford rooftop. Beads of sweat dotted his mottled red forehead, and his tie was crooked around his bobbing throat.

“If you need to speak to me, make an appointment,” Elliot stated without emotion.

Gavin must have been working himself up to a lather while he’d been waiting for us, so Elliot’s careless dismissal incensed him. He tossed his arms out, his face darkening to near maroon.

“You canceled my fucking lease, Levy! Where the hell do you get off?” Gavin loaded a hundred tons of anger into his accusation while keeping his voice low.

“This is something my lawyers should have explained. Accosting me on the street won’t get you anywhere.” Elliot folded his arms, visibly unruffled by this confrontation.

“You can’t just do that. I spent months finding that office space, and you decided I have to start all over because I flirted with your secretary? What kind of man are you? What kind of business are you running?”

Gavin paced in front of us, anger radiating off his vibrating limbs. His eyes met mine, and he stopped moving, looking at me like I was a lifeline.

“Did he tell you he did this? Can’t you talk some sense into him?”

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I—”

Elliot held up his hand. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Catherine. Gavin chose to trespass in my building and sexually harass my employee. In the initial leasing agreement you signed, there was clear language that stated violation of the rules of Levy Development would immediately nullify your contract. Your lawyer should be able to explain that to you. It isn’t my job.” He straightened his tie, cool and collected.

Gavin’s wild eyes bounced from me to Elliot and back again. “Oh, I get it.” He huffed a laugh like he was about to pull one over on Elliot. “You’re into your secretary and pissed she was responding to me. If you hadn’t interrupted, I would have had her number. One date, I would have had her on her back. You didn’t like that, did you? The thing is, it isn’t my fault she’s more into me than you.”

Elliot scoffed. “You really have no idea what you’re talking about. I suggest you walk away.”

Gavin focused on me again. “You know how fucked up it is to get involved with him? When he’s finished with you, you’ll be out on the street just like Donald Rockford. Hope you have a backup plan, kitten.”

Elliot’s chin lowered, and he took two steps forward, looming over Gavin, whose anger had made him foolishly brave.

“You’re a child playing adult games. If you’d taken the time to think about your actions, you would have recognized Rockford isn’t the only building in Denver I have a stake in. I would have let your disrespect of me and my employee go at canceling your lease, but this behavior won’t stand. Good luck finding office space within fifty miles of the city.”

Gavin sputtered, his eyes growing alarmingly wide. “Wait. That isn’t— I—”

Elliot grabbed my hand, pulling me right past Gavin, who couldn’t seem to get a full sentence out. I would have felt sorry for him if he hadn’t made the comment about getting me on my back. That guy really was an overgrown frat boy.

Once in the LD lobby, Elliot spoke to the security guards, making them aware of the man spiraling outside on the sidewalk, then he bundled me into the executive elevator and crowded me into the corner.

Bracing his hands on the wall beside my head, he swept his gaze over me. “Are you all right?”

I nodded. “I’m fine.”

I truly was. For a split second, I’d been afraid of what Gavin might do, but with Elliot’s immediate and unwavering protection, I knew I was safe.

“I’m sorry you had to see and listen to that.”

“Well, I’m sorry you had to deal with it. That guy was a true asshole.”

He paused, frowning at me. “You’re not angry I canceled his lease?”

“Why would I be?”

“He wasn’t wrong, Catherine.” He reached around the back of my head and pulled the end of my ponytail over my shoulder, wrapping a chunk of it around his fingers. “I did have his lease canceled because he flirted with you. He now has no excuse to be near you ever again.”

I should have been incensed or offended, at the very least. So why did my heart go pitter-patter and my underwear get wet?

I wrapped his tie around my hand the same way he did my hair. “That’s sweet.”

He reared back, giving me that dubious brow. “You’re not being sarcastic.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not. But I think I should say you can’t ruin every man who looks at me.”

His brows dropped like an anvil, and he took my face in both hands. “I can, sweetheart. Never doubt that.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop a grin from spreading. “I meant you shouldn’t. Obviously you can.”

His mouth twitched with amusement, which made me sigh in relief. I liked that I was able to draw him out of that moment of intensity. Elliot was one of the most powerful men in Denver, and being able to shift his mood felt a little like my own superpower.

Three days later, Elliot approached my desk after a meeting with LD’s chief lawyer.

“My office.” He held out his hand for me to take. This wasn’t on his calendar, but he’d become more flexible with his schedule lately—at least when it came to making time for me.

Once in his office, he shut the door and pulled me around to his side of his desk. He sat and patted his legs.

“Sit, please.”

I frowned. “On your lap?”

“Yes. I have something for you to read and sign. It’ll be easier if you’re sitting.”

“In your lap…at work?”

“Yes.”

He looked at me like this wasn’t unusual, but it was to me. We may have slept together and were more than just boss and employee, but crossing the line at the office was a step we hadn’t taken yet.

And Elliot nonchalantly expected it to happen.

Tired of waiting for me to move, he snagged me around my middle and yanked me into his lap. I flailed around, unused to sitting on any man, let alone Elliot. But his hold was sturdy, and he didn’t so much as grunt when he took all of my not-so-inconsiderable weight. In fact, the sound he made was almost a purr, and his nose immediately went to the crook at my shoulder, inhaling my scent.

I let myself relax against him, just for a moment.

“There’s something for me to read?”

He nodded, his nose sliding along my neck. “On my desk. Read and sign. I’ve signed my parts already.”

“Your parts?”

“Just read it, Catherine. Save your questions for the end.”

I picked up the papers, zeroing in on the bolded words at the top:

Transfer of Shares

What the hell?

I read on through a lot of legal terms I only vaguely understood. What I did comprehend was this was a contract, and my name was all over it, along with Elliot’s. It was only when I got to the end it finally dawned on me what it was.

Elliot was trying to transfer one percent of his shares of the Rockford building to me, which was worth seven figures.

“No.” I put the papers down on the desk and turned to face him. “No, Elliot. Why would you want to do this?”

He remained relaxed despite my emphatic refusal. “Gavin is an idiot and said many stupid things during his little meltdown on the sidewalk on Monday, but he was right about one thing: we have a massive power imbalance. If I chose to, I could leave you with nothing.”

I swallowed hard. “You could, but I don’t think you would do that.”

He tapped my lips with his fingertip. “But you don’t know for sure, and I don’t want that thought hanging over either of our heads. Once you sign the transfer, you’ll have enough money to walk away from me and this job if you want to.”

“Elliot—” I sighed, unsure of what to say. How could I possibly accept this? He’d lost his mind. “This is far too much.”

“It’s one percent of one of my buildings, sweetheart. It isn’t too much. And this is as much for me as it is for you.”

“How can that be?”

“If you have ‘fuck you’ money, I won’t have to wonder why you’re with me. Our playing field will be as even as I think you’ll allow me to make it. I’ve thought about it, and I believe this is the only way for us both to feel comfortable going forward.” He took my cheek in his palm, locking my gaze with his. “And Catherine, I want to go forward with you, however that looks.”

I rolled my lips over my teeth, considering what he was saying. Elliot knew how to sell things. It was his job to know his audience. If he’d tried to frame it as something just for me, it would have been easier to say no. But since it was for him too, I was wavering.

“It’s too much,” I whispered.

“It isn’t. That shouldn’t be a reason for you to hesitate.”

“What would you do in my position?”

“I’d take it.” No hesitation at all.

“That simple?”

“It is. I want you, and I’ll remove every obstacle that might be in the way of us making it.” He stroked my chin with his thumb, and I found myself softening, inside and out. “This isn’t a manipulation tactic. There are no strings. I’m giving you something free and clear. This contract doesn’t tie you to me. You aren’t indebted to me. I hold no power over you, and you’ll be with me solely because you don’t want to be with anyone but me.”

For the first time since we’d entered his office, Elliot’s smooth facade broke, and between the cracks, his vulnerability showed through. I couldn’t say I knew what it was like to date as a wealthy man, but I could imagine. Trust was probably next to impossible to come by, always wondering about the other person’s motives. I knew I’d ended up in Elliot’s bed because of my growing feelings for him, and those feelings wouldn’t have changed if he was as broke as I was. He probably knew that too, but I didn’t doubt he’d sometimes question it.

“Mistrust is no place to begin a relationship,” I started.

His nostrils flared. “I do trust you. I explained my reasoning.”

“And I trust you.” Leaning forward, I picked up the pen he’d laid beside the papers. “I’m going to sign so we can move on from this without any questions in front of us. Whatever happens, it’s because we both want it.”

He was silent while I went through the contract, initialing and signing beside his own signature. When I was finished, I tossed the pen down and swiveled around in his lap, putting us nose to nose.

“There,” I whispered.

In one moment, a pin could have been heard dropping. In the next, Elliot let loose a possessive growl.

Then he was on me.

Lips, hands, everywhere.

Elliot was an animal unleashed, taking what he wanted without asking. He didn’t need to since I wanted him just as bad.

My mouth was bitten and tingling from his ravenous kisses. My panties were discarded in a heap with my skirt and my resolve to remain professional at the office.

He bent me over his desk, my legs spread wide and sucked on my clit like he was trying to reach my soul.

My fist was in my mouth, doing my best to keep my moans muffled. Though I hoped his office was soundproofed because I was doing a terrible job.

“Please, please,” I breathed into my fist. “I need, I—”

He slipped two fingers inside me, finding my G-spot like he possessed an internal map of my body. My legs started to shake, and my belly flooded with heat.

“Elliot…oh god, I’m going to come.”

His tongue flattened against my clit, flicking and pressing until I forgot where we were and that I was supposed to be quiet. I ground my ass and pussy into his mouth, clawing at the desk in front of me.

Fingers digging into my hips, Elliot anchored himself to me, giving my sensitive lips long, licking kisses until I couldn’t take another second of it.

And neither could he.

He rose behind me, the sound of his zipper exciting a spark inside me. One arm wrapped around my shoulders to cup my throat, he bent over me, his face coming down beside mine. At the same time, the wide head of his cock prodded my entrance until he was perfectly aligned.

My pleasure had slickened my walls and inner thighs. Elliot slammed into me in one powerful thrust, and I took him. Not easily. He was too thick and long for it to be easy to get used to his invasion, but there was no pain.

“Jesus, sweetheart. Your pussy is so damn wet for me.” His mouth latched on to my shoulder as he drove into me in short, hard pumps.

“You did that to me.” I turned my head to the side, rubbing my cheek on his hair. “You make me so hot.”

“Like that.” He nipped my ear then sucked the edge of my lobe between his lips. “Like when you tell me how good I make you feel.”

“I’ll have to tell you later. I can’t think straight anymore.”

With a grunt, his weight lifted off my back, and his hold on my hips tightened. “I can’t go easy on you.”

“Don’t try.” Arching my spine, I offered myself to him. “Take me like you want to.”

Elliot was a man possessed, fucking me dirty and hard until my hip bones dug into the edge of the desk and the sound of his skin slapping against mine filled the room. He grunted my name over and over, sliding his hand around the curves of my waist and ass.

“Need you, baby. Can’t get enough.” Trailing his hand to my upper thigh, he lifted it up so my knee rested on the desk. I was splayed wide for him, and if I had been given a chance to consider how I must have looked, I might have been self-conscious. But Elliot gave me no room to breathe, much less worry about my lumps and bumps. Besides, this man was on fire for me. Clearly, he had no problem with how I looked.

He reached between my legs to circle my clit, and I vibrated, my limbs weak but taut. If not for the desk and the man sandwiching me between them, I would have melted onto the ground. But Elliot had me, and I didn’t fear he would let me go.

I came with sudden, wild intensity, clenching around Elliot’s thick length, drawing him to the deepest part of me. He groaned with me, keeping his steady rhythm, riding me through my climax. Black spots danced behind my lids. I bit down on my forearm to attempt to muffle myself again. I couldn’t keep my voice down, and I didn’t want to try.

“Yes, sweetheart. That’s so beautiful.” Elliot spread my cheeks with his thumbs, muttering curses under his breath. “Seeing you gripping my cock. Trying to milk me. You want me to fill you up? Get you messy?”

“Yes,” I panted. “Please, please, please.”

“Oh yes, you like that. I feel you.” He powered into me, holding me wide open. I felt his eyes on me, watching himself fuck me. I was dizzy from it, from him, and he kept going, pounding frantically.

“Oh god, oh god, Catherine.” His mouth clamped my shoulder, wet and warm. He sucked and bit, and I turned my head toward him, rubbing myself on all the parts I could reach.

With a final, guttural grunt, he let himself go inside me. My inner walls warmed with his spilled pleasure, and his clothed body draped over my back heated the rest of me.

“Yes, yes.” He rubbed his forehead on my shoulder, then drew back, bringing me with him until we were sitting in his chair, his cock still wedged deep inside me.

He chuckled and picked up my arm, which fell down when he let it go. “You’re floppy.”

Laughing, I nuzzled his throat. “Somehow, I’m expected to go back to work now.”

He held up his watch to check the time. “We have a meeting in thirty minutes.”

“No,” I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. “I’m ready for a nap.”

He patted my hip. “I have immense faith in your ability to pull yourself together.”

“Elliot,” I sighed. “We really shouldn’t do this here again.”

“Hmmm.” He moved my hair to the side to kiss the hinge of my jaw. “Do you know how many times I’ve thought about what it would be like to do exactly what we just did? Every time you sat across from me, unflappable and perfect, I imagined you mussed up and wild.”

My inner walls fluttered around his half-hard cock. He took me by the hips and ground me down on him until we were both panting all over again.

“We can’t.” I tapped his watch. “Your meeting.”

“If you want me to make it to my meeting, don’t do tricks with your pussy.”

I pried one of his fingers off me. “You could let me up.”

“In due time.” He wrapped his arms around me, resting his hand possessively on my stomach. “I’ve been waiting for this, so I’m going to savor it, especially if you won’t let me have it again.”

I slid my hand over his, slotting our fingers together, and accepted the truth. Elliot Levy really liked me, and he wasn’t afraid to show it now that it was out in the open. This feeling of being wanted and adored, something I hadn’t had much of in my life, would be what I would savor.

“Maybe it could happen again.” I kissed the underside of his jaw. “Once or twice more.”