: Chapter 69

“So opening is in a month, we will set a date later. I have already reached out to local food and wine magazines, as well as a few large influencers online to help get exposure. Marketing is handling the social media aspect, and I have a manager in place. The building is complete, and they are decorating right now while the staff learns the ropes. I kept it as authentic to a dive bar as possible, but with upscale aspects and amazing food, all in the style of bar food, burgers, and wings…”

She trails off as I look over the notes. She’s nervous as hell. I can hear it in her voice. Some of this might be her money, but she already mentioned she has no illusions that we didn’t give her this opportunity to be more than she ever thought she could be, to grow her business and give back to this city…and to the man who saved her—Rich. It’s an apt name, and I have commissioned his photograph to be blown up and added over the bar.

A surprise for her when it opens.

Leaning back in my chair, I steeple my fingers as she shifts nervously in hers opposite my desk. It’s not often that I see Roxy nervous. It’s cute, but she shouldn’t be. She has become a businesswoman so easily. She has a good eye for staff and great ideas, and with our help and the assistance of her people, she will go far. I have no doubt her collection of bars will take off. Their mix of rustic, dive charm and upscale cocktails and food, and the dark black and moody ambiance is perfect.

“I love it,” I tell her, and she smiles suddenly, relaxing. “I really do, love. It’s amazing, and your numbers look good. Your online presence so far is astounding. It’s going to be incredible.” She sighs and gathers the papers back into her file. “He would be so proud of you.”

She freezes, her eyes filling as she blinks and looks up at me. “You think?” she asks quietly.

I nod and lean over the desk, taking her hand in mine. “I have no doubt. You have become an amazing woman, Roxxane. So strong, so sure, and this will be no different.”

She smiles, a sad one. “I hope so. One of the last times I saw him, he told me he was always hoping I would make something of myself, that I could go far if I tried…if I stopped letting my fear hold me back. He had a way of seeing through me. That’s why he left me the bar, to help me along, a push…I just hope he can see me finally listening.”

I squeeze her hand and tug her closer. She gets up and rounds the desk as I pull her into my arms. She cuddles into me, her head on my chest as I stroke up her back. “He would be so proud, and so am I. No one could ever stop you, Roxxane, not when you set your mind to it. This is only the beginning, love.”

She sighs and leans up, kissing me softly. “God, sometimes you’re too perfect to be true.” A glint of mischief lights up her eyes as she reaches up and musses my hair, making me snort. “There, that’s better.”

“You heard from Garrett?” I inquire, as I reach for my phone and scroll through the emails and messages. There are none from my brothers, so I drop it again and focus on the woman in my arms.

She hums. “He sent me a dick pic about an hour ago.” I blink, and she laughs. “I asked him to. He’s still out, sorting the gyms he wants to buy and figuring out how to get the kids off the streets and in there so they can get jobs.”

I nod. “It’s a good plan, gives them an opportunity if they want to take it, and some training to protect themselves.”

“Yep, you are all giant softies really.” She laughs, making me narrow my eyes on her, and she giggles. “I won’t tell anyone, your secret’s safe.”

“We are not softies,” I snap.

She raises her eyebrow and leans up, straddling my lap and leaning back into the desk as she looks at me. “Really? Buying gyms and homeless shelters to help those who are suffering? What about the money you send every month to the charities in the city? Or the house you bought to turn into a safe haven for lost kids?”

I narrow my eyes further, my ice melting as she grins at me. “Babe, admit it, you are all softies.”

“I’ll give you soft,” I snap, picking her up and dropping her on my desk. Her pupils blow at that as she laughs. “I have something very fucking hard.”

“I bet,” she teases. “What’s the matter, Ry? Big bad Ryder the softie,” she purrs.

“Softie?” I taunt, as I rip off her knickers, toss them aside, yank open her thighs, and drag her to the end of the desk as I lean back in my chair. “I think you forget who I am, Roxxane.”

“Ooo, Roxxane, I’m in trouble now.” She laughs.

“You are, love. Touch yourself, let me watch, but you do not get to come, understand me?” I order, getting comfortable in my chair as she watches.

“What?” she scoffs. “How about you just fucking touch me?”

“How about you do as you’re told, or I will punish you and you will not enjoy it,” I snap.

“You sure about that?” she teases, but trails her hand up her thigh and pushes up her dress to show me her glistening pussy. “You know I like you mean.” She rubs her clit and traces back down and circles her hole. “Cruel,” she adds, as she slips a finger inside herself. “Hateful.”

Grunting, I watch entranced. “Another finger,” I demand, controlling her even now, knowing she loves it when I do.

She does as she’s told, a moan leaving her lips as she slowly pulls them out and pushes them back in, her other hand dragging up her thigh to rub at her clit desperately. “Eyes on me,” I bark.

She flickers them up to mine as she fucks herself on her fingers, her hips rising to meet her touch as she rubs and fucks. Her breathing is speeding up, her cheeks flushing, the blush crawling down her chest, and I know she’s close. “Stop,” I command.

She carries on for a moment, and I narrow my eyes.

“Stop now.”

She whimpers but pulls her fingers free and, watching me, licks them clean. My cock jerks in my pants, pushing painfully against the zipper as I watch her. Fuck.

“Dress off,” I order, unzipping my pants as she watches. She pulls it off and tosses it away, her breasts unbound and bouncing with the movement, the globes begging for my mouth, but I resist for now. “Lie down, pull your knees to your chest, and hold them there.”

She does, wrapping her hands around her shins and holding herself open for me. I run my eyes down her dripping pussy, licking my lips as I stand and push down my trousers, circling my length as I step closer. “You will stay like that or I’ll stop, understood?”

“Yes,” she moans. “Please, Ry.”

Stroking along her pussy, I dip a finger inside and twist, making her cry out before I extract it and press my cock there instead, letting her feel my hardness. She tries to push down to take me, but I pull back, and she stills again, panting on my desk. My very own Viper at my mercy.

When she behaves, I press my cock against her entrance again, and in one smooth move, bury myself inside her to the hilt, the tilt of her hips making her cry out as she clenches around me. Always so fucking tight and wet. “Goddamn, love, you feel so good. Look at that pretty pink pussy taking me like a good girl.”

I watch her pussy swallow my cock as I thrust in and out of her. Her fingers turn white with how hard she’s holding back from touching me, trying to be a good girl for once.

“Ryder, fuck,” she moans.

“So goddamn beautiful. Every time I’m in here, now all I see is you bent over my desk, it makes it very hard to work,” I growl, running my finger around her clit until she’s gasping and moaning loudly. “So goddamn hard, like my cock whenever I even think of you.”

“Please,” she begs, and I tap her leg.

“Stay still, princess,” I demand, as I drive into her again and again, rubbing her clit until she screams, coming around me. Only then do I let her drop her legs. I flip her over, bend her over my desk, and fuck her for real.

She gives as good as she gets, pushing back to meet my thrusts, her hair wrapped in my fist as I bite and lick her neck where her pulse hammers against her skin. “You fucking undo me,” I mutter.

“Show me, show me how much,” she demands, her voice hoarse and body covered in a thin sheen of sweat as I lick her neck again and drive into her with wild abandon. That ice I once held onto so tightly is just a puddle of water with her, my walls down.

We are just a man and a woman in love.

Just two Vipers locked together.

“I love you,” she pants, and I groan.

“Say it again,” I demand. I never tire of hearing it, especially from her lips. She only ever seems to say it when I break her down.

“I love you, love you, love you,” she chants, as she meets my brutal thrusts. “Love you!” she screams, as I slam into her once more and still, melting, my balls emptying inside her as she comes as well.

We collapse to the desk, me still inside her, and when she starts to push back again, my softening cock begins to harden. “Goddamn it, love.”

“Better get to work, Mr. Viper,” she purrs, making me chuckle.

“Every goddamn day,” I promise, as I start to move again with shallow, little thrusts that she rocks to meet. “I love you, Roxxane, my weakness, my love.”