Chapter 14

Lawson

At the sound of her heels clicking on the tile, my pulse races. She rounds the corner, and I push off the wall, closing the distance between us. Her eyes grow wide when she spots me stalking to her.

“Lawson—” is all she gets out before I wrap my arms around her and crush my lips to hers.

My tongue swipes along the seam of her mouth until she parts her lips enough for me to slip through. The instant I taste her familiar minty toothpaste, I groan, sliding a hand up her back and threading my fingers in her hair. She clutches at my chest, sucking in a breath, taking her air from me. A searing desire scorches inside as I pour my apology into the kiss.

Not seeing her for the last few days only confirms what I already knew. I love Greer Palmer with every fiber in my being. There will never be another woman for me.

She arches into me, letting out a low moan, and my dick lurches. I suck on her tongue, angling her head and deepening the connection. She meets me stroke for stroke, then starts to slow, breaking away much too soon.

I hold her close, pressing my forehead to hers. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“I know,” she pants.

“Forgive me,” I say for the tenth time since she called me back Saturday morning.

“I already did.”

“Kiss me again.”

“Do you think we can move into my office so the security cameras aren’t pointed on us?”

“What is it with you and security cameras? Know what? I don’t care if some guy in a control room watches me kiss you.” I run my lips over hers. “Let him see.”

She smiles against my mouth and leans back, her eyes bright. “My office.”

“I love it when you’re bossy.” I let go of the death grip I have and lace my fingers with hers.

She pulls me along and swipes her badge to unlock the door. As soon as we’re inside, I’m on her again, this time lifting her off the ground and forcing her arms and legs around me. I can’t get enough; my tongue glides along the roof of her mouth as my lips move urgently against hers.

Too soon, she tears away, gasping for breath. My lips move to her neck, kissing a path to her ear where I nibble gently on her earlobe. “I need you now.”

Her legs tighten around my waist, and I hiss when my dick scratches painfully against the denim.

She stills, arching her neck backwards. “What’s wrong?”

I thrust my hips into her, showing her what she’s done.

Her eyes light up even brighter, and a wicked smile forms. “You’re going to have to talk him down for a while. Haley will be here soon, and I’m not having my employee walk in on us going at it like animals.”

“Come home with me.”

“Don’t you have to work?”

“I took the day off. With you gone, I worked all weekend. Today is ours.”

“But I’m slammed. We have four ladies this week, and I’m working with Haley on marketing.”

“Haley’s got it covered. Go home, be with your mega-hot, super obsessed boyfriend.” Haley waltzes in from the other room, surprising us both.

“Haley!” Greer shouts, unlatching her hold on me and scrambling down. “How long have you been here?”

“I got in early to get started on the plans for the week. I came to say good morning but saw you in a lip-lock and didn’t want to interrupt.”

Greer’s face heats up and I notice her lips, cheek, and chin are all marked from the stubble on my face.

“Maybe we should have a code for when you’re about to get it on in the office.”

“We were not about to get it on.”

Haley starts to laugh, moving her eyes between us. “I’m pretty sure ‘I need you’ only has one meaning when your boyfriend has his tongue in your ear.”

“Oh my God.” Greer drops her face to her hands.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I’m not a virgin, Greer.”

It’s my turn to lower my head to hide my amusement. As much as I’m enjoying this, it’s cutting into my plans with Greer for the day.

“Can you do some work from home?”

She nods, raising her head, and I can see the argument forming in her mind. Before she can give me any excuses, I grab her hand and turn back to the door.

“She’ll see you tomorrow, Haley,” I call behind me, tugging Greer along.

“Wait!” Greer struggles to get her hand free.

“No more waiting.”

I lead us through the back entrance to my truck and sit her inside, snapping her seatbelt in place.

“Lawson, I can’t just take the day off.”

“It’s not an option anymore. You’re mine for the day.” I kiss her nose and shut her in, going to my side.

“Now, who’s the one being bossy?” she grumbles when I pull onto the street. “Was this your plan, to ambush me and force me home?”

“I didn’t have a plan, but I couldn’t go another hour without seeing you this morning. Short phone calls weren’t cutting it. The only thing I could do was meet you at the office with the hope you’d give me a morning kiss. Then I saw you and knew a kiss wouldn’t be enough.” I reach for her hand and bring it to my mouth. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”

I glance over to see her frown lines disappear. “Thank you.”

“Thank me when we get back to my place.”

She takes her hand back and starts to fidget. “Actually, can we go to my place? There’s something I need to show you, and there’s a lot I need to tell you.”

I get an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach at the tone of her voice. The traffic is light, and I get us to the parking garage in record time. “We need to go by the lobby and get my bag the driver dropped off for me.”

“We’ll get it later.”

“I should—”

I haul her to my side and press my lips to her temple. “Later.”

“Okay,” she relents.

When the elevator delivers us to our floor, I let her lead us to her apartment, unsure of what to expect.

“Have a seat and give me a second.” She drops her purse on the counter and goes straight to her spare room.

She comes out toting a huge frame and hands it to me, a worried expression etched on her face. My heart hammers in my chest, and I blink rapidly to ensure I’m reading correctly.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Greer Elizabeth Palmer

School of Architecture + Planning

The phrases Urban and Environmental Engineering, Honors, and Magna Cum Laude all run together and my vision becomes cloudy.

“MIT?” I croak. “You graduated from MIT?”

“I did,” she whispers. “And so did they.”

She holds out a picture, and I take it, seeing her and her friends standing together in caps and gowns.

“Jenny went the farthest with her education. She has her PhD in Biological Engineering and Chemistry. Jonas and Enrique have their graduate degrees in General Chemistry, and Bessie is General Technology and Information Planning.”

“Why the secrecy?” I glance up to find her twisting her hands nervously.

“It never came up,” she offers weakly.

“Why tell me now?”

“Because Dad made me realize I’ve been too closed off.”

“Closed off?”

“He’s convinced maybe he sheltered me too much.”

“How so?”

She sits and reaches below her coffee table, bringing out a photo album. “How well do you want to know Greer Palmer?”

“As well as I know myself.”

“Then put those to the side. I have a whole album to share with you.”

I do as she asks, and she moves next to me.

For the next hour, she tells me about her life through pictures. Trips, experiences, and memories tumble out as I learn more and more about the real Greer Palmer. When she hits the last page, she slaps the book closed and deflates into the couch.

“So, that’s me.”

My subconscious is on overdrive, screaming that now is the time to spill my secrets. I could spin the truth, explain my family business. But if she asks too many questions, there’s a chance I’ll reveal too much.

“Say something.” Greer’s small voice tears me away from my thoughts.

“I’m soaking it all in. There are lots of questions firing off in my head.”

“I’d be surprised if there weren’t.”

“Come here.” I place the album on the table and haul her into my lap, trapping her in my arms. “What doesn’t make sense is why you’d be hiding it. Why wouldn’t you share this with me before?”

“Because it never came up?” She gives me the same lame excuse from earlier.

“Sure it did, I ask you about yourself all the time. We talk about your parents, your clients, and your friends, yet you glazed over some pretty major details.”

Her eyes meet mine and are full of hesitation and uncertainty.

“Greer, baby, don’t shut down now. You’ve come this far.” I trail my hand down her cheek and tuck her hair behind her ear.

“I was scared it would change things between us. There’s a reason my parents sheltered me. In the outside world, being Kevin Palmer’s daughter comes with insinuations and assumptions. People regard me a certain way publically. They see a very rich woman as a gateway. I learned the hard way that people are relentless and opportunistic. I prefer simplicity in my life. When we met, you had no idea of any of that. You liked me for me.”

Every fucking word she says is like a searing blade into my chest, carving a hole in my heart. I’m that fucking relentless and opportunistic asshole that saw her as nothing but a gateway to getting his career back on track and my hotshot promotion.

Here she sits, in my lap, spilling her vulnerabilities so honestly. And I’m the sick bastard she should be running from.

My gut rolls with revulsion. I’m a predator, violating every ounce of trust she’s given me.

It doesn’t matter that the project is done. I turned in the final blueprints and scale model yesterday, leaving them for my uncle to review. With Greer gone all weekend, I worked tirelessly and finished ahead of schedule. The construction and planning pieces still need to be implemented, but my job is complete.

Now, I stare into her beautiful green eyes that are swimming with self-doubt and force myself to focus on her. “I don’t care about any of that. I’ve known for weeks about your riches. It was a shitty thing for me to bring it up on Friday night. I lashed out unnecessarily because I was being a dick.”

“I used the term asshole myself.” She cracks a smile.

“Asshole, huh?”

“Yes, the thought crossed my mind when you hung up on me like an imbecile.”

“Not my finest shining moment.”

“No, but I knew in the back of my head, I deserved some of the blame. I purposely let you believe my friends were laboratory associates and made them play along. It was silly and pointless. I’m proud of my friends and their accomplishments.”

“There’s a lot to be proud of, so why shield it?”

“Because I’m an idiot. My excuses sound lame now. Can we drop it?”

“Yes, but I have to know one more thing. Do I need to refer to Jenny as Dr. from now on?”

She giggles, poking me in the ribs playfully. “Not at all!”

“I can’t believe Jonas and Enrique are actual scientists, and I thought Bessie was a receptionist.”

“Oh my God!” Greer throws her head back laughing. “She’s going to crack up when she finds that out.”

“Maybe we should keep it to ourselves. Don’t want to piss off the braniacs.”

“Good call.” Her face grows a bit more serious, the teasing expression disappearing. “Lawson, are we okay?”

“Hell yes.”

“I’m so relieved to hear that because I really like you. I really like us.”

“We’re solid, Greer.”

Her face softens and she cups my cheeks, swiping her thumb across my lips. Her eyes are now sparkling.

“Is this it? No more bombshells?”

“I think that’s it. Unless you want me to explain what this weekend was about.”

“I thought is was a clandestine, underground Nerd Herd secret.”

“It is, but I don’t want anything else between us.”

It’s my turn to skim my fingers across her lips. “I can wait. Tell me when it’s time.”

She curls into me, nuzzling her head in my neck and releasing a long sigh. I tighten my hold, brushing my mouth back and forth along her forehead.

A slow burn builds from deep inside with the need to claim this woman wholly. Being in love with her is not enough; it’s time she knows how serious I am.

“I have money, Greer. Not the kind you’re accustomed to, but enough for us to live comfortably. Anything you want, if it’s within my power, you will get. My mom had money, but Dad worked hard to make sure he took care of his family. That’s what I plan to do with us, take care of our family.”

She sucks in a deep breath and goes completely still. I’ve only mentioned my mom a few times in conversation, and I rarely mention the rest of my family. It’s not a subject I’m comfortable discussing.

Until now.

“How about a new plan?” I swing my legs up, stretching out on the sofa and adjusting her so she’s tucked into my side. “Let’s talk.”

“Talk?” She jerks her head back.

“Yes.”

“I’m a little talked out.”

“How about I do the talking then? Did I ever tell you about the time I tried to convince Clay he could fly and he broke his arm?”

Her smile stretches across her face, and she shakes her head. “It sounds cliché, but I’d like to hear it.”

“Well, he was irritating me…”

•∞•∞•

Greer’s hushed voice stirs me from sleep. I slowly open my eyes and take a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting. I find my glasses folded on the coffee table and put them on, shaking my head a few times to wake up. The last thing I remember is the two of us falling asleep on the sofa, her curled into me tightly. It was the best sleep I’d had in days.

Hell, it was almost the only sleep I’d had.

I walk around the apartment, finding Greer on the phone in her spare room. She’s hunched over her computer on the daybed, not noticing me. Her hair’s tied on top of her head, and she’s changed into a loose tank top and her favorite baggy pajama pants. There’s a concentrated scowl on her face as she stares at her screen.

“Too frilly…”

She presses a button on her keyboard.

“Way too extreme…”

She clicks again.

“Absolutely horrendous…”

Click.

“Whoa! Stop… Pull it… Tomorrow… Mannequin…” There’s a level of excitement in her voice as she speaks in clipped fragments.

She still hasn’t noticed me watching her as she fires off instructions. I lean against the doorway, enjoying the way she guides Haley through more details. After a few minutes, she sees me. Her expression grows soft, and she smiles sweetly.

She mouths ‘give me a second’ and focuses back on her screen.

“Haley, I’m going to go now. You’ve done great.” She shuts her computer. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

They say their goodbyes, and Greer twists, placing the laptop and phone on the desk against the wall.

I slide behind her on the small bed, placing my hand on her abdomen to pull her close. She leans into me, nestling her head into the crook of my neck.

“Did I wake you?”

“No, although I did miss having you next to me.”

“I tried to slip away quietly. You looked so peaceful.”

“When I forced you to play hooky, it wasn’t to sleep the day away.” I dip my head to nip her earlobe. “I had much more exciting plans.”

“Exciting, huh? What did you have in mind?” She twists, pressing her chest into mine, and at the same time curls her hand around my neck.

I lower my mouth to hers, outlining her lips with my tongue, then sliding it inside. She scrapes her fingernails through my hair as I kiss her tenderly, taking my time to taste and savor. The instant my eyes landed on her this morning, I was desperate to have her in my arms, feel the connection that fuels my body every time we touch.

But now, it’s a different kind of desperation. I trail my hand up her arm, feeling goosebumps pop at the touch. When I get to the column of her neck, I caress the skin lightly then thread my fingers in her hair, loosening the tie until the silky waves fall. She tightens her grip, pushing herself onto her knees and straddling my lap without ever breaking our connection.

Every nerve in my body starts to buzz when she wraps around me. My free hand skims down her back and slides inside her pants, cupping her ass. She swivels her hips, positioning herself perfectly against my aching dick, and starts to grind.

“Is this in line with your idea of excitement?” she mutters into my mouth, taking my bottom lip between her teeth.

“We’re getting there.”

She leans back, forcing us apart, and whips her tank over her head, tossing it behind her. My eyes immediately land on her hardened nipples, and my mouth starts to water. I snake my fingers down her neck and along her collarbone, slowly going lower until my hand cups her breast. My thumb circles over one then glides to the other, and I listen to her breath hitch at the feather light touches. She arches her chest, dropping her head back and using my thighs as an anchor.

My tongue swirls around the pebbled skin while I caress her other breast, mirroring my movements between my fingertips and my tongue. Her loud moan cuts through the air when I suck her in deep, scraping my teeth along the flesh.

She increases the movement of her hips, rocking into me. My cock pulses with each stroke. Even with the material between us, I can imagine the warmth of her pussy gripping me. The need to be inside her sears my bloodstream. Beads of sweat roll down my back.

“Baby.” I unlatch from her breast, gripping her hip to stop her movements. “Let me undress you.”

Her head flies up, her eyes glowing wickedly. It’s a look I’ve come to recognize well. Since the night of the camping trip, her sexuality has taken a turn. If I thought she was uninhibited before, I had no clue. She’s bolder, more confident, and completely wild. She bites on her lower lip and shakes her head slowly, continuing to move.

“No?”

“No.” She lets out a low, slow moan that sends my blood rushing south.

I try to push us apart, but she surges up, throwing her arms around my shoulders and lowering her forehead to mine. “Just feel, Lawson. Stop thinking and feel.”

“I feel everything, straight in my dick, which is screaming at me to get inside you.”

“Then I’m doing it right.”

“You always do it right. That’s why I need to get you naked.”

She sweeps her lips back and forth across mine. “I swear it’ll be worth it.”

“Everything about you is worth it.”

“Then trust me on this. Stop thinking about what’s ahead and let the anticipation grow.”

It’s my turn to thrust my hips into hers. “It’s grown. Don’t you feel it?”

“I do, it’s hard and thick, the heat radiating through your jeans. I’m soaked thinking about the way it stretches me every time you slide inside. I’ll tell you when to take over.”

The picture pops vividly in my mind, and I grit my teeth to stop from flipping her onto her back and shredding our clothes off.

She continues her assault, keeping her eyes locked with mine. The air thickens with sexual tension as the coiling in my gut tightens. The friction is almost too much to handle.

“Stop thinking so much and enjoy it,” she repeats.

I close my eyes, unable to hold her stare, and do as she says. Then I start to feel it. The peaks of her nipples poke into my chest, the scent of her arousal fills the room, and the warm breath of her panting coats my face.

Anticipation isn’t nearly strong enough to describe what she’s doing to me. Filthy and erotic thoughts run rampant through my mind until I’m more worked up than I’ve ever been in my entire life. I open my eyes to find her staring intently, the green of her eyes now gleaming. As if she can tell I’m about to lose my mind, she presses her lips back to mine.

“Now,” she whispers.

In a flash, I have us both naked and her pinned underneath me. She locks her ankles around my back, and I plunge inside her wet heat, sinking all the way in one stroke.

The single movement sets her off, and she screams into the room, arching her back off the bed and trembling around me. Her pussy clenches tight, and I groan at the sight below me. She doesn’t stop moaning, chanting my name, thrashing, and crying out in pleasure as I pound into her.

I try to hold back, but it’s no use. My balls start to throb, and I give her one last thrust before I explode, pouring myself deep inside her. Sweat rolls down my neck and chest as I convulse, my whole body shaking.

Electric shockwaves shoot through my veins as I try to come back down from the greatest sexual high I’ve ever experienced. My chest heaves, fighting for breath, and when I can finally open my eyes, I find Greer grinning seductively.

“Jesus, what was that?”

“Well, I don’t know about you, but I just had the best sex of my life.”

“Can you even call that sex?”

“If you have to ask, maybe we need to try it again.” She wiggles her hips, and my still hard cock lurches inside her.

I hiss at the sensation, and she giggles.

“Come here.” She reaches for me, and I lower myself, bracing on my elbows, careful not to crush her. “I’ve always wanted to try that, but I’ve never found anyone I trusted to experiment with.”

The thought of her experiencing anything sexual with anyone else sends a surge of red-hot jealousy through me. “No one else will ever fucking get the chance to, either,” I growl.

She rolls her eyes and places a hand on my cheek, running her thumb across my lips. “One summer, Jenny, Bessie, and I took a human sexuality course for fun. Our professor at MIT carried her Ph.D. in Human Anatomy, Chemistry, and Biology to name a few. She was also a sex coach on the side, teaching couples that had lingering troubles in their intimate lives. She taught a class on the peak of anticipation and how it can enhance the climax to the point of multiple orgasms and ultimate pleasure. So many people rush into the act of sex without giving thought to how a certain level of build-up will actually increase the endorphins—”

I cut her off by crashing my mouth to hers, unable to control the new desire building. The picture of her earlier replays in my head, with her words ringing in my ears. I’m turned on and ready to go again.

She starts to laugh, her chest vibrating against mine. “I’m not done talking. There’s more,” she mutters around my tongue.

I rip my mouth away from hers, fixing her with a hungry gaze. “Unless it has to do with multiple orgasms and ultimate pleasure, it can wait.”

“So, you’re not interested in learning about the benefits of clit stimulation?”

My dick swells thicker, and I almost blow inside her. Again. “Clit stimulation?”

“Oh yeah.” Her smile grows sexier, and her eyes twinkle.

Holy fucking hell, I may not survive the night…