Everything He Risks (Bookkeeper for the Billionaire #4)(5)
Author: Thalia Frost

I’m not going to let that happen.

I gripped my folders tightly, putting myself into numbers and accounting mode. I had people to impress.

When Rock tapped lightly on my door a few minutes early, my heart skipped a beat.

“Time for a quickie?” he growled, crossing the room toward me. All signs of tiredness were gone. His nap had worked wonders, and his old virility was back.

As if there was any question of my being willing and ready…

“But the meeting—”

“Hang the meeting. We have time. As the CEO, I can come in thirty minutes late if I want to, as long as I have a bullshit excuse,” Rock said, taking me into his arms. He threaded his hands through my hair, pulling it as he kissed me hard and deep.

I drank in the scent of him, unable to suppress a moan of longing. Rock tugged at my skirt, and he backed me up to the bed, pushing my ass against it.

“Turn around,” he rasped in my ear as he nipped at it. Rock jerked my skirt up without preamble and bent me over the bed, face down on the mattress. “I couldn’t wait until later to taste you again.” He yanked my garters loose and pulled my hose down. His fingers lay lightly on my ass for a moment, and the room spun as I wondered what he had planned for me.

His hands cupping my ass and his lips on my cheeks, sucking and teasing didn’t keep me in suspense for long. I whimpered as his fingers found my clit. “I have just enough time to make the world spin for you, Lacey.” Rock’s lips moved to my cleft, and his tongue darted in places where no man’s tongue had been before.

A wave of heat swept over me.

“Does this embarrass you? That I want to taste you all over?” Rock whispered, his fingers against my nubbin, sending sparks of sensation through me. My legs threatened to buckle, and I let them. Rock was holding on to me anyway as I allowed myself to collapse fully on the bed.

“No.”

He smacked my ass lightly. “I don’t believe you. There’s no reason to be ashamed. You taste sweet.” He gripped my hips—hard—as his tongue teased my entrance, and I sucked in a breath, hardly believing it.

“Rock—”

“Shh. Just let me make you feel good.”

I surrendered to him then, my eyes closed as waves of pleasure washed over me. The throbbing in my cl*t grew in time with the mastery of his hands on me. His tongue probed deeper inside me, and I gasped for breath.

“Just let go. Come for me, Lacey, like I’m all you’ve ever known or wanted.”

His words drove me over the edge. I gripped the sheets as I cried out in orgasm, stronger than I thought possible. Rock kissed his way up my backbone, his body pinning me to the bed in a not unpleasant captivity.

“I hate to say it, but we have to go. I guess it’s best not to be late and rumpled. It might raise eyebrows.”

I groaned as Rock scooped me up against him and his c**k pressed against my ass.

“I wish…” I trailed off as he caressed my br**sts through the dress.

“I’m saving it for later tonight. I was shot recently, you know.”

I laughed as he helped me get my clothes back on straight.

* * * *

“Ms. Pate, this is the vice president of the company, Walter Marsh.”

I shook hands with a balding, affable gentleman.

“How are you, Ms. Pate? I know you’ll keep Rock straight.” The man laughed, but I heard an edge to the sound.

Is he friend or foe?

He sat down at Rock’s right. We were the only ones so far in the sterile meeting room in a building in downtown Venice.

“So, where have you worked in the past?”

I cleared my throat. “Several companies in California.”

Rock interjected smoothly. “Ms. Pate’s resume is quite impressive, and I’ve been happy with her quick take on the company’s finances.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

Mr. Marsh raised his eyebrow but said nothing.

The door of the conference room opened, and another well suited man sauntered in.

“John. Take a seat.” Rock rose and shook his hand.

“Of course.”

I studied Rock’s handsome cousin, John Weldon. I’d met him briefly the same night I’d met Rock. It seemed like ages ago, but it had only been a week before.

“Ah, hello. You look familiar. Have we met?” John Weldon sank into a chair across from me at the long, rectangular table. He studied me, cocking his head as if puzzled, but his eyes held mirth.

He knows very well who I am.

Heat rose in my cheeks, and I waited a beat before replying. “I’m Lacey Pate. We met at the benefit at Mr. Weldon’s last week.”

“Oh, that’s right. Pleasure to see you again, Ms. Pate. Are you working for Regal now?” He steepled his fingers.

The man is getting under my skin.

“I am.”

“Yes, John. Ms. Pate is my personal bookkeeper. There were some things I wanted her to go over with the accounts.”

I heard a strange note in Rock’s voice. Is he uncertain about something?

He always sounded so sure of himself.

“Great, Rock. I’m sure her work is stellar. And how are you? Quite the excitement last night.” John grinned, sliding his gaze toward Rock.

Something passed between the two men, a familiarity that went beyond being cousins. “I’m fine. Life goes on.”

“Do the police think it was a random shooting?” Walter Marsh asked.

“I think so. They have no leads.” Rock shrugged as if the whole issue was a minor one.

What is he playing at?

Something Rock had said to me before niggled at my memory. The man he suspected of stealing money from Regal had saved his life. Could that man be John Weldon, his cousin?

And for some reason he doesn’t want to accuse him and deal with it in an impersonal way. But why? What does Rock have to hide? There has to be more to it than that.

I wanted to know that whole story now—about who it was who had saved Rock’s life. There was so much about Rock Weldon that remained a mystery to me.

Eight other men filtered in, and I was introduced to each of them, but my mind wasn’t on them.

I sat through the meeting, half listening until the end.

“And tonight, I’ll have a very important announcement. I’m throwing a party at Ligotti’s. Be there at 7:00. All of you. That’s it.” He rose with a half smile, and the board members shuffled out, throwing questioning glances his way.

“I hope the surprise won’t be too severe,” Walter Marsh said with a frown as he stood.

“Not severe at all.” Rock didn’t smile when he spoke.

“See you later, cuz,” John threw over his shoulder.

“Later, John.” Rock stood with a tired sigh.