Chapter Sixteen

Beckett

 

I woke up in my bed, alone, then went to take a shower. Walking past the tub I thought about bathing with Ella the other night, her small soft body held against mine, and I wondered when I would see her again. She wouldn’t have signed my NDA before she left if she was blowing me off. I heard my house cleaner Mrs. Davis arrive and get to work. I had told her not to come the past few days, buying myself time to deal with Ella, but last night I let her know her services were needed again today. While she bustled about and the vacuum gave a low hum I opened my closet, a towel wrapped around my waist, and decided on a charcoal grey suit. I needed to put in some face-time at the office.

Once I was dressed I slipped a pair of round platinum cufflinks into my sleeves and wrapped a black silk tie around my neck. Dressed and ready for the day I stepped out of my room adjusting my collar then picked up my wallet and keys.

“Good morning Mrs. Davis,” I told the tiny woman bustling around my living room.

“Good morning Mr. Carter,” she had a plump face and a bright smile. “I’ll have everything perfectly tidy when you get home.”

I glanced past to my library, making sure I had remembered to close the secret passage. I had. I nodded at her then walked past towards the elevator. I went down into the garage, heading for my black Audi and slipping into the drivers side. Behind the wheel I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for the day. I was nearly healed up now thanks to the medication from Body Tech I had taken. I expected it to work well, but not that well. It really was a stunning advancement in biomedicine and after the company got its eventual FDA approval I was sure it was going to change the world. It had already changed mine as the Phantom, not that it meant I could afford to be careless. I had to be a lot more careful next time I went after Marco Venetti.

Driving through the streets I tried to think of how I was going to get another chance at taking down my enemy, the man who destroyed my family and turned me into the angry violent monster I had become. He needed to die, and maybe then I would be able to find peace. When I pulled into the parking garage and my reserved spot, I headed up to the top floor and past reception. Heads turned my way, secretaries and young women we employed watching me with their eyes. I didn’t feel tempted by any of them, the only woman I wanted to seduce and conquer right now was Ella. She filled my mind and awoke something in my body that I doubt could ever be fully satisfied. I craved her to a degree I had never wanted another person before, with a burning violence that tore through me.

My assistant Jessica jumped to her feet and rushed over to me when she saw me arrive.

“Good morning Mr. Carter. Your schedule for today is updated; a few calls and meetings, nothing major. Scott from PR was hoping to talk to you this morning.”

“Send him to my office, and could you bring me a coffee?”

Jessica nodded then headed for the kitchen while I opened the door and walked into my office, settling behind my desk. I replied to a few emails and read the news while I drank the steaming coffee Jessica placed on my desk. My heart raced a bit faster when I noticed Ella had written a new article, apparently about her undercover work looking into a prostitution ring. The night I had found her. This was it; did she give anything away?

The article focused only on the facts, but kept so much out. She wrote about the drugs and the women, the heavy security and the night club being a front for the illegal activities taking place upstairs. Women were being bought and sold, their flesh commanding a high price. The piece ended with reports that after she had left, there was an attack on the men who ran the operation. One witness survived, the outside security guard, who indicated it was the Phantom. She finished with a note that the police have no other witnesses and could not confirm or deny the Phantom’s involvement.

I leaned back in my chair with a smile. It was a well-written piece of investigative journalism that said everything and nothing. Ella had been true to her word and kept my secret while still doing her job. I admired her ability to walk the thin line between the truth and a lie. There was a knock at my door and I looked up to see Scott standing there.

“Jessica told me you were free to discuss something with me Mr. Carter.”

I nodded and gestured to the chair across from my desk, where he sat down.

“What is it you need to discuss Scott?”

“I’m sure you read the resulting article from the interview you gave recently, about a Carter Foundation donation to the LVPD.”

“I did read it.”

Scott ran the Public Relations for my company with ruthless efficiency. He was a cautious man who liked control as much as I did, although maybe not in all the same areas of his life. I respected his ability to do his job and keep my company’s reputation intact. But as he sat across from me, fidgeting in his tailored suit with a grim expression on his clean-shaven face, I could tell this article had upset him. Good. I paid him a fortune to get upset by exactly this type of thing.

“We’ve been in contact with the editor Harry Killinger to demand a retraction,” he continued. “But they’re sticking by the reporter who wrote it. Yesterday I had a heated conversation with Harry where I insinuated that maybe Carter Enterprises pulls all of our current and future advertising from the paper. That got his attention.”

I nodded and gave a slight smile. “I bet it did.”

“They’re sending a reporter this afternoon to do a piece about the Carter Foundation and all of the various contributions we make to Nevada organizations as well as some of our international interests. It’ll basically be a puff piece, but they owe us that. I know you probably have a full day, so if you’re not available I can do the interview or have one of the executives do it. Maybe David?”

“What reporter are the sending?”

He shrugged. “I told him I didn’t care as long as it wasn’t Ella James.”

“I have time to do the interview this afternoon, I’ll have Jessica book the time in my calendar and clear my schedule. And I want them to send Ms. James, I won’t give an interview to anyone else.”

Scott widened his eyes.

“But Mr. Carter, she’s the one who-”

“She did her job,” I cut him off. “She wrote what she wanted to write, and now she’s going to have to write what we want her to write.”

Scott gave a short laugh. “You’re right, that’s a fitting punishment. It will also look more credible being written by the journalist who wrote the negative piece, like its balanced. Good thinking.”

I nodded and turned back to my computer, signaling for Scott to leave and get to work setting things up with the paper. I finished my coffee as I reviewed progress reports and gave emailed directions to my executives. When I noticed that Jessica put the interview into my calendar for one this afternoon I sent her a note to order lunch for the meeting and show Ella to my office when she arrived, cancelling my afternoon calls and meetings. I wanted her all to myself, and I wanted to talk to her about our situation in addition to the article she had been assigned.

I worked through the morning into the afternoon. Jessica came into my office and set up a tray of sushi in the corner table by the couch for my interview, then left and brought Ella to my door. When she knocked I looked up and smiled. She was stunning in an emerald green skirt and white blouse, her long legs ending in a pair of nude heels. She smiled demurely at me from the doorway, something powerful and unspoken between us, and I stood to walk over to where she was. She shot her hand forward and I suppressed a grin as I shook it.

“Thanks for agreeing to do this article, Miss James,” I told her.

She gave me a knowing look. “It’s not like your company gave us much of a choice, now did you?”

Jessica’s eyes widened in shock and I chuckled, gesturing for Ella to walk over to the couch and take a seat. When Jessica left I closed the door, giving us privacy. Ella lowered herself onto the couch, smoothing her skirt, and I went over to sit beside her.

“My editor is pissed by the way,” she told me. “I can’t believe you insisted I come back to write an article about your foundation just because I told the truth.”

“You didn’t tell the truth Ella. My foundation gives money to the LVPD, in addition to other organizations, because I believe successful people need to contribute to a better world.”

She rolled her eyes. “Your PR people clearly have you well trained.”

I stared at her, a flash passing over my face and my palm twitching against my leg.

“No one trains me Ella, that’s for me to do. Or did you forget the little lesson I gave you the other day already?”

Her cheeks flushed as she looked down and opened her notebook. I could see that she had a list of questions prepared.

“Before you begin, I ordered lunch. Eat something.”

She glanced at the table and shook her head.

“No thank you.”

“You don’t like sushi Ella?”

She scrunched her face and shook her head. “It’s raw fish.”

“Have you ever tried it?”

Again, she shook her head while looking at me.

“Well how can you know you don’t like something if you’ve never tried it?”

She shrugged. “I just think food should be cooked, that’s all.”

Difficult. She was always difficult. I picked up my chopsticks and lifted a piece of spicy tuna roll to her lips. “Open your mouth.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Has anyone ever told you how bossy you are?”

I smiled. “Humor me, try it. If you don’t like it you can get started with your questions.”

She stared from me to the piece of sushi in front of her, sighed, then opened her mouth. I slid the piece past her soft lips and she squeezed her eyes shut as she chewed. After a second she paused, then opened her eyes.

“Oh,” she exclaimed. I smiled as she chewed then swallowed. “It’s actually pretty good. Not fishy or slimy like I always thought it would be.”

“I’m glad I was able to be there for your first time,” I winked at her then ate a piece. Her cheeks flushed crimson at the double meaning of what I had said as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ears then tried another piece. Glancing down at her notes, she took a sip of water then turned to face me.

“So, Beckett Carter of Carter Enterprises. In addition to the Las Vegas Police Department what other charities benefit from contributions from the Carter Foundation?” She groaned. “God. I can’t believe I have to do this interview.”

“Well Miss James, I also contribute to World Wildlife because I believe in the importance of conservation of our natural environment. There’s the Water project that brings clean water to developing countries. We really take fresh, clean water for granted in our country. I donate to the American Association of Food Banks to help eradicate hunger in our country because I’m very fortunate and feel it’s my responsibility to give back. I have set up a scholarship fund for underprivileged teens with Nevada State University. I believe those are the largest recipients from the Foundation you should be aware of.”

Ella scribbled down notes as I spoke, I watched her as she concentrated. She was mesmerizing, the lines of her face and body as well as the way she moved. I could watch her forever.

“Why did you choose to add the LVPD to the already impressive list of charities you support this year?”

“Because it’s the twentieth anniversary of my parents murder, and their killers have still not been caught or punished.” Ella froze, her pen hovering over the paper as she stared at me. “I wanted to mark this year with the hope that we could solve unsolved crimes, as well as prevent any other children from losing their parents to violence like I did.”

“I didn’t know that,” she said softly. “Why didn’t you tell me that when I wrote the original article? I feel horrible now.”

“Because it was private, and I’m a private person. But I can see now how this information adds context, so I’m letting you know.”

She tried and struggled to regain her composure, looking down at her notes and questions.

“Is there anything else you would like to add?”

“Yes. When can I see you again Ella?”

She shifted in her seat.

“I meant anything else to add for the article… and you’re seeing me right now.”

I moved along the couch until I was right beside her, reaching out and running my thumb gently across her cheek.

“You have everything you need for the article, but I don’t have everything I need from you.”

Ella looked into my eyes, her cheeks heating as she bit her lower lip. God, I wanted to bite that lip for her. The way she moved, the way I knew she tasted. She was constantly tempting me to the point where it was hard to think of anything else when she was near me. Ella closed her notebook.

“What exactly is it that you need from me?”

I suddenly leaned closer, my lips stopping inches from hers as her breath hitched in her throat.

“You want to hear me say it, is that it Ella? I want to slide that skirt of yours up around your hips and fuck you on my desk.”

Ella’s eyes widened and she looked past me towards the door. She dropped her voice to a whisper.

“You’re at work.”

I placed my hand on her smooth leg, sliding my fingers up slowly exposing more of her skin inch by sinfully soft inch.

“It’s my company. I decide what I do with my time, and right now, you have my undivided attention.” She bit her lip once again and my hand tightened on her thigh. “You’re driving me crazy with the lip biting Ella.”

“Sorry, I didn’t even realize I was doing it.” She stood up slowly, holding onto her things. “Maybe I should go before we do something stupid.”

“I didn’t tell you to leave yet.”

She blinked then crossed her arms.

“Excuse me, you didn’t tell me to leave yet? I realize you’re bossy Beckett, but I do have free will.”

I was still seated on the couch in front of her and I looked up at her defiant face. The fact that she was resisting just made it more of a turn on that I wanted to screw her in the middle of the afternoon in my office. I had to be inside her or I was going to lose my mind.

“Drop the notebook and put your hands on my shoulders Ella.” My voice was low, taking on an edge of authority I knew from experience she responded to.

Her expression softened slightly and she shifted on her feet.

“Why?”

"I want you to do it because I'm telling you to and I think a part of you enjoys giving in to me, even if you try to fight me on it. So go ahead Ella, argue with me. We both know I'll get my way in the end. Now. Put your hands on my shoulders, and drop the damn book."

She dropped her notebook onto the floor and placed her hands on my shoulders, looking at me with curiosity and confusion. She wouldn’t be curious for long. In an instant I hooked her leg over my arm and lifted it up to my shoulder joining her hands. She gasped as I lifted her skirt then yanked her underwear aside, pressing my mouth against her.

She was soft and sweet, just like I remembered her. Her hands gripped my shoulders tighter as I rolled my tongue over her slit finding her clit and sucking on it in smooth even pulls. As I massaged her with my tongue a moan escaped her lips and she clapped her hand over her mouth. Sunlight streamed onto us through the window as I licked her over and over again, stroking and teasing her body to the brink. Her legs were trembling and she held onto me for dear life. When I slipped a finger inside her and started to stroke I heard a muffled scream from behind her fingers.

I didn’t stop, moving my mouth and finger together as her body became heated. She was shaking, finding it difficult to stay standing on one leg in her heels while I ate her out, and as I stroked her faster I felt her fingers tighten even harder. She almost fell over as she found her release, her core tightening in pulses around my finger, but I held her still with my free hand as she rode the waves of her pleasure against my mouth.

I stood up, my erection painfully hard and throbbing, then picked her up and carried her over to my desk. I reached forward and threw my papers and documents off with a swift sweep of my arm and placed her on her back. Yanking her flimsy underwear down her legs I unzipped my pants and let my cock spring free. I gripped one of her ankles in each hand then sank into her with a groan.

She was soaking and tight, a perfect snug fit made for me. I pushed into her, hard and rough, far beyond any ability to be gentle right now. While she caught her breath and recovered from the harsh orgasm she had just experienced I slammed into her body going balls deep inside her, lifting her legs to angle her hips and fit my entire length into her. With each hard thrust the desk shook and as I slapped against her one thing was repeating in my mind with each wet smack; mine, mine, mine.

Ella looked up at me with her beautiful soft eyes, her cheeks rosy and her full lips red and wet as she licked them in pleasure. From the first time she kissed me I knew this woman was going to turn my entire world upside down. What I had never expected was for this timid, inexperienced woman to be the most incredible sexual partner I had ever met. Her every gesture and moan. The way she was slowly learning the depths of the pleasure she could experience, and the way she didn’t shy away from the brutal ways I wanted to take her over and over again. She may no longer be my prisoner, but I was never letting her go.

My balls clenched tight against my body and I gripped her harder, gritting my teeth to keep back the moan that threatened to tumble out my throat and tell the whole damn office that I was about to come into the hot young journalist in my office. I kept as quiet as I could, screwing her hard and deep, until I felt myself tighten then release inside her. As I came inside her the air rushed from my lungs, my movements slowing slightly while I spilled myself in her body. I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against Ella’s.

As I let my eyes meet hers, feeling satisfied and a deep sense of connection to her, I was caught off guard by the tenderness as she looked back at me. Before I could react, before I could say a word in this moment, she moved her head up and softly pressed her lips against mine. I felt my body tense, then relax as she kissed me with gentle pressure. I kissed her back, softly, the monster in me satisfied for now and able to give in to her delicate affection.