9
Bryce
I was livid. I wanted to tell my mother so much, but I restrained myself since everything that came to my mind was so ugly that would turn this dinner into a downright disaster.
I’d given up a long time ago on my parents accepting my plans, determined to make the most out of my business with or without their support. Their reluctance to support me was one of the reasons why I’d stopped visiting them as often as before. Sometimes, I just wasn’t ready to listen to their lectures about my career, so I used my work as an excuse not to see them.
Tonight my mother had crossed the line. Chloe was already doing me a big favor by pretending to be my girlfriend, so she wasn’t supposed to witness our arguments. She wasn’t supposed to deal with my emotional baggage. So having Chloe hear my mother giving me the same old reproval was more than enough to make me furious.
All I’d asked for was one normal dinner with my family. What I’d gotten? And they said this was all about the family time, what a joke.
“I’m not wasting my skills or passion, Mother.” I always called her mother when I was mad at her. “I’m putting them to a very good use, but of course you wouldn’t understand that. I’m done with trying to make you understand me. All you’ve been doing these last few years is showing me again and again how disappointed you are with me, and I’m tired of it. I think it will be best if Chloe and I leave now.”
She scowled, hurt by my sudden decision. “What? No, love, don’t say that. Please, let’s calm down. We’re supposed to have a nice family dinner…”
“Like you just said—we’re supposed to have a nice family dinner, but it’s nothing like that. Chloe doesn’t have to listen to us bickering all the time. That is why it’s the best to end our dinner here.”
“No, Bryce, wait!”
I left the kitchen annoyed with my mother, set on making this project successful more than ever.
***
My mood went south the last night and it only got worse after the restless night. I’d been barely able to sleep, rolling around in my bed, the argument I’d had with my mother playing on repeat in my mind.
They didn’t understand. They didn’t understand how hard I worked for my future, considering me overly ambitious and wide of the mark. If only they took a look at a bigger picture, they would be able to understand how much this meant to me, even though being a doctor and helping my patients had been something I’d dreamed about from the start.
This had been a toss-up, but the pros of developing my own business were too good to disregard. I was making more money than ever, wasn’t I? What was wrong about securing my future and the future of my family?
Still, there was a voice deep within my mind that kept telling me that maybe my parents were right. Maybe my argument was full of holes and I’d been making a grave mistake here.
We had left my parents house soon after I got out of the kitchen, and even though my father didn’t tell me anything, his expression spoke volumes—he was yet again disappointed with me. Chloe and I didn’t speak at all during our ride back to the hotel, which only made my anxiety levels rise, and I wished she didn’t have to see me like this.
The rough sex we’d had before we went to sleep was good, but it couldn’t relieve me from stress, so when I woke up this morning and took Chloe to the hospital for the tour, I was ready to spit fire. I was supposed to take it slow, but as we walked through the corridors, listening to the representatives’ spiels, I was unable to stop grumbling.
“This place doesn’t look the way I imagined it to be,” I said straightforward.
“It doesn’t?” Mr. Roberts, one of the sellers, asked, stopping mid-step to look at me.
“I looked at the documents you provided, but they show something completely different. The capacity is insufficient, and the placement of the wards isn’t right. The whole place is structured wrong.”
“But, sir, we assure you that with a minimal investment, it will be able to reach its maximum potential.”
“I would already be investing enough money into this property. I don’t want to go bankrupt just fixing this place.” Okay, that had been an exaggeration, but I needed to get my point across.
“Sir, consider the location and its long-time competitiveness,” Mr. Meyers, the other representative, said. “It occupies one of the best spots in the area, and it would provide you many clients.”
“I’m not satisfied with the location,” I countered as we continued walking down the corridor.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Chloe wincing, awfully quiet. She hadn’t said a word since we started the tour, letting me do all the talking. I glanced at her and spotted a sour expression on her face, but the moment our eyes met, she masked it, which didn’t sit well with me at all. What was wrong with her now?
“But the location is its strongest asset,” Mr. Roberts said.
“Exactly my point. It doesn’t offer anything of value to me, and frankly speaking, I don’t think I would get this business rolling any time soon. I didn’t make millions by hoping for the best. I made millions by careful planning and smart business decisions, and I don’t think this would be a smart business decision.”
Chloe let out a barely audible grunt, and I turned to look at her. She was glaring at me, her lips pursed. Roberts and Meyers looked equally unsatisfied, and I could guess they wanted nothing more than to be out of here and at home with their families. Still, I had to hand it to them—they weren’t giving up that easily.
“Sir, we hope you will reconsider this. If you look at the past few years, you will see that the hospital runs better than others in this area. We have a good reputation for a reason.”
“I’m not finding your argument convincing at all,” I bit back.
With a sigh, Chloe came in between us. “If you’ll excuse us for a second, I would like to talk with Dr. Evander in private.”
She pulled me aside, out of their earshot, and faced me with her hands on her hips. “What is going on with you? These people are bending over backwards to meet your needs and you’re being rude. If you don’t want the place, then say it. Don’t make them adhere to your every whim!”
For a few seconds I was unable to do anything but gape at her. I was already used to the Chloe who would make sure I was completely satisfied, but this Chloe right here was defying me, and I didn’t know what to make of it.
“A whim?”
“Yes. A whim. You’ve been completely disrespectful to them for no reason. This place isn’t as bad as you make it to be. Sure, you would need to invest some money to make it work the way you want it to, but it’s not a lost cause.”
I ran my hand over my face. “You don’t understand.”
“No, it’s you who doesn’t understand. You’re mixing personal issues with work here, and it’s clouding your judgment. Get over whatever you’re going through, Bryce.”
She looked away and exhaled a long sigh. “Look, l heard your argument with your mother in the kitchen. I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have listened, but it was hard to walk away when you two were really going at it. I wanted to tell you that they weren’t fair, and they should try to listen to your side of the story, but the point is—you can’t let your parents’ disapproval get to you. Deal with it like a grown up and stop sulking.”
Just wow. Who was this woman and what had she done with my Chloe?
I maintained our eye contact, completely taken aback. A woman had never said this to me before, so hearing Chloe put me in my place was making me shocked and impressed at the same time.
And just like that, all my anger dissipated. I threw a glance at the sellers, finding them in the middle of a hushed conversation, and took a few steps toward Chloe. She was looking so fierce—so confident—and it was making me want her more.
“What do you think?” I asked her.
She cocked her head to the side, clearly confused with my question. “What do I think about what?”
“What do you think about my mother’s words? Do you think I’m wasting my skills and time? Do you think it would be better if I returned to my original plan?”
Her brows furrowed as she let her eyes wander to some spot in the distance. It looked like she was thinking whether she should be honest with me or not.
“Please, tell me the truth.”
She let out a tiny sigh. “I think your mother could be right. Is money really that important? You already have plenty of it, but the thing is—does it really fulfill you? Does all of this”—she motioned with her hands around us—“Does it make you happy? And more importantly—does it feel as fulfilling as saving people’s lives?”
Words failed me as I pondered about her words. Now that she’d put it that way, the answer was clear. I didn’t feel so fulfilled or excited when I dealt with my business. I remembered vividly how I felt in the beginning of my career—I was on the top of the world. It was like I was invincible and my abilities were unlimited.
I was a researcher and I worked with people, and it was never about the money. I hadn’t chosen my career because of the zeroes on the checks. The money came on its own, but along with it, it appeared that I had changed, and not for the better.
How could I be so blind? I’d been too occupied with getting more power and money, forgetting the most important thing. Happiness. I wasn’t happy, rushing from one meeting to the other, always stressed and trying to make everything work, without even realizing I wasn’t being myself.
“Thank you, Chloe,” I murmured to her, wishing I could hug her right here and now. “You helped me just now more than you can imagine.”
I turned on my heel and joined Roberts and Meyers, deciding this was the end of this tour.
“Gentlemen, thank you for your help and for agreeing to see us today. I apologize for my inappropriately impolite behavior.”
I took a quick look at Chloe and found her smiling at me. I smiled back at her, much calmer now.
“I am afraid I’m experiencing some personal issues at the moment that prevent me from continuing this project, so I won’t be acquiring this hospital after all. I am terribly sorry for today’s inconvenience.”
I smiled at Chloe, immensely relieved with my decision. As we walked out I instructed her to send a nice basket of baked goods to both men’s families for the inconvenience.
It was time to find myself again.
10
Chloe
I’d noticed the shift in Bryce’s mood as soon as we got into the car after we left the hospital, his erection clearly visible to me, which sparked my desire for him. We didn’t speak as he navigated through the snowy streets, both of us impatient to return to the hotel.
Just as we entered our room and I closed the door behind me, Bryce came from behind and wrapped his arms around my waist, pushing me against the wall.
“Bryce?”
He ground his dick against my backside, and I gasped, surprised at the sudden change in his behavior.
“What gives?” I fisted my hands on the wall and arched my back when he kissed a sensitive spot right under my ear.
He worked on the buttons of my suit, grinding faster against me now. “No woman has ever stood up to me like you did. And it’s sexy.”
Throwing my jacket aside, he proceeded to unbutton my shirt. I moaned when his lips wrapped around my earlobe, bringing heat to my insides.
“I liked it a lot.”
He shrugged my shirt off and unclasped my bra before he dropped it to the floor. My pussy began throbbing when his hands cupped my breasts and kneaded them, everything in me warming at his touches and nearness.
“Bryce... Please touch me.”
“With pleasure, sweetheart.”
He moved his hand underneath the waistband of my skirt and went further down until he cupped my naked, pulsating flesh. His name came out of my lips as a moan, my heart picking up its pace when his thumb brushed my clitoris.
“You’re already so wet for me.”
He rubbed my nipple with his palm as he slid his other hand to my hole. Two fingers entered me, ripping through my wet walls.
“Ah... Yes...”
“Tight and wet. My favorite combination.”
He began thrusting into me fast, doubling my pleasure. I moved my hips to meet his thrusts, high on sensations that grew stronger with each second. His mouth slid down my neck, leaving hot kisses that sent shivers down my spine, tweaking my nipple with his deft fingers.
“I’m going to come...”
“Not yet.”
Surprising me, he pulled his fingers out of me and stepped backward.
“What are you doing?” I asked, not believing he actually stopped when I was so close.
His smile was devilish. “Showing you how good it can be.”
He never looked away from me as he stripped off his clothes, ending naked in all his glory. My mouth went dry when my eyes went over his rigid chest and abs to his thick cock.
“Take off your skirt and lie down on the bed.”
Not wasting a second, I followed his command and lay on the mattress, watching him settle in between my thighs.
“When I finally let you come, it’s going to be better than anything you’ve experienced.”
His mouth lowered to my nipple, his tongue darting out to meet my hardened nub. I moaned, grabbing his head when the sizzling pleasure coursed through me. He moved his other hand to my mound and continued his previous teasing, circling his fingers around my clit.
“Please Bryce...” I writhed against him, barely able to stand his taunting. “Make me come.”
“Not yet.” He proceeded to my other nipple right before he let his fingers slid back into my wet hole.
I convulsed around them, grabbing a strand of his hair and pulling him so I could kiss him. His hot lips met mine with urgency that stole my breath, our hearts beating like crazy as our kiss deepened.
His fingers worked me fast, and once more, I was so close that I could almost feel it...
“Bryce!”
“Not yet,” he repeated and moved his fingers out of me.
“No!” I protested, glaring at him, which only made him laugh. “Stop playing with me. I need to come.”
“And you will, beautiful. Be patient.”
He moved back to my nipple, flicking it with his warm tongue, but this time he moved lower, leaving a wet trail down my stomach. My pussy throbbed stronger the moment his lips reached it, my insides burning when he started licking my clitoris.
“Ah!”
His mouth devoured me, pressing all the right spots as he took me to higher heights. I closed my eyes shut when the pressure became too much, my whole body shuddering hard. He held my thighs in place, not letting me move an inch, which only made me more restless.
He pushed his tongue through my swollen lips and probed my entrance, twirling it inside of me, and it was beyond amazing. I needed to come. I needed to come right now.
“Please... Ah...” He fucked me faster. “That’s it. I’m going to...”
Just seconds away from my orgasm, he pulled away, his mouth and chin completely wet from my juices.
“Taste yourself, Chloe.”
Before I could respond, he kissed me, letting me get a taste of my own juices. He positioned himself right in between my legs and ground against me, moving his cock right across my slit.
I began rocking my hips, silently begging him to take me right now, but he didn’t, pushing the tip of his cock right across my clit, continuing to stimulate me.
“Bryce!” I was getting desperate, crazy with need to come as his eyes burned into me. The friction was more than I could handle, getting me near my climax in three seconds flat, but this time he finally—finally—allowed me to come, finishing me off with the head of his cock.
“Yes!” I screamed again and again, writhing beneath him.
“So fucking sexy,” he muttered and thrust inside of me—right in the middle of my orgasm.
“Ah! What are—” I screamed again when the motion sent me into delirium, prolonging my orgasm, and it felt just like he’d promised. It was better than anything I’d experienced before, and my mind went completely blank.
He pushed to the hilt, and my mound gripped him like a vice, sucking it further inside of me.
“Now how does that feel, huh? Better?”
I nodded, unable to speak. He began pounding into me, each thrust bringing me an unimaginable pleasure now that my pussy was super sensitive. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pushed him closer to me, needing him deep inside.
“You feel too good, Chloe. If you only knew how you make me feel...”
“Just like you. I love everything you do and this... This feels incredible...” I was breathing heavily, my eyes rolling to the back of my head when he hit the sweet spot inside of me, which increased my ecstasy.
He grabbed my waist and pulled me up, sitting on his hunches, before he continued his hard rhythm. My stomach coiled, the pressure growing stronger the closer I got to my next climax.
He impaled me on him again and again, going in so deep that I thought he would split me in two. Our lips clashed against each other, our potent kiss unleashing some feelings that went beyond desire. I was lost in him, feeding on the pleasure he gave me with each powerful thrust.
He snaked his arms around my thighs and pulled me up with him, taking us to a wall. “I just can’t get enough of you.”
He pushed back into me, my juices allowing him to enter me in one slick move, and resumed banging me.
“Bryce!”
He fucked me even harder, holding my gaze as our breaths mixed together.
“Don’t stop.” I begged him, digging my nails into his shoulders. “Please don’t stop.”
“I’ll never stop,” he promised me and stole my lips again, driving into me more roughly, which led me straight to another numbing climax.
“Yes! Ah...”
I threw my head back, becoming limp in his arms as he moved even faster. I barely sensed him moving, bringing us back to the bed. He positioned me on the edge and plunged a few more times before his body turned rigid.
“Fuck. I’m going to come.”
With a grunt, he slid out of me and positioned his cock above my navel, spurting his hot load right onto my stomach. “Chloe! Fuck.”
His deep green eyes found mine and we lapsed into silence as we tried catching our breath. He leaned onto his forearms and brought his lips on mine, hovering above me. Unlike his previous kisses, this one was tender, melting everything in me, and my heart swelled with the same feelings I’d felt just a few minutes ago.
I was starting to fall for him.
Before I could process this further, he moved away and went to bring me a cloth to wipe myself clean.
“I’m sorry for being an ass this morning,” he told me when he led me into the shower.
I embraced the hot current of water happily, leaning against his chest. “It’s okay. I’m glad you’re better now.”
He took soap and started soaping my back, his hands moving in slow, circular motions. It felt calming, and I closed my eyes.
“I finally realized some things. I’ve been focused on my work too much that I haven’t even noticed how stressful and unfulfilling my life has become.”
His hands traveled over my waist and stomach, awakening desire in me again.
“I want to see my parents and apologize. I don’t like how I left things last night, especially since we’re supposed to be spending a nice family time.”
“I think that is a good idea. I’m sure they feel sorry for arguing with you too.”
“Yeah. So will you come with me? To my parents house? I’m sure they would love to see you again.”
I moaned when he covered my nipples with his soapy fingers. They responded to him immediately, rising to meet his touch.
“Absolutely. After all, I’m your assistant and I have to make sure all your needs are fulfilled, right?”
His chuckle rang through the air. “True. But right now I have to make sure your needs are fulfilled too, if you catch my drift.”
He lowered his hand and palmed my pussy. His slow strokes set my body on fire, erasing all residues of calm I’d felt and replacing it with raw hunger.
“Oh yes. Please do it.”
He pulled me flush against him, settling his erection in between my ass cheeks, and held me in place as his hand brought me pleasure. Everything stopped to exist, my body reveling in the sensations he provoked in me, and I ended in a rapturous daze once again.
Somehow, I was sure we weren’t going to come out of this shower any time soon, ready for round two.