Tell Me - Ashe Barker Page 0,41

her chin on his chest, unable to summon the energy to do her part any more and hoping he would take over.

He did. Tony flipped her onto her back without ever breaking contact. He hooked his arms under her legs, behind her knees and lifted her for his deeper penetration. He could have fucked her hard, on most occasions he would have. But not this time. He drew back, then slid his cock deep, the action gentle, exquisite in its tenderness.

“I love you.” Thea whispered the words as her orgasm caught her again, but this time her release was achingly slow. Soft and gentle, the pleasure teased and soothed as her body offered up its response.

“I love you too, sub of mine.” Tony buried his face in her neck and kissed her. His body stiffened. He buried his cock one last time, and held still. Wet heat filled the condom, and Thea held on. She promised herself she would never let him go.

Chapter Eight

“So, what happened today? Did you report everything to the police yet?” Thea helped herself to another portion of sweet and sour pork as she glanced at Tony across the kitchen table.

“Certainly did. You have an Inspector Collywood very eager to talk to you. He’s coming back tomorrow morning, around ten.”

Thea nodded, her mouth full of aromatic noodles.

“And I have a somewhat twitchy finance department who’ll need calming down. By the way, I read through Denise Metcalfe’s personnel file after we talked earlier. I think you made a good call there. How come she was never promoted before?”

Thea swallowed her noodles and surveyed the array of foil trays spread across the table. She had her eye on a spring roll next. “David Lister probably. If he was on the take, chances are other aspects of his management were suspect as well. Including his staff appraisals. Anyway, she’ll have her chance to shine now, at least for a while.”

“If she’s any good she can keep the job. Call this a trial period.”

Thea nodded again, this time impeded by a mouthful of crispy pastry and spicy vegetables. She chewed slowly, aware she was about to make another giant leap—for her.

“Shall I follow you to the office in the morning? In my car, I mean?”

Tony lifted an eyebrow, the only indication he gave that the significance of this moment was not lost on him. She was no longer insisting on working via remote access or only going into Dart Logistics’ premises when the rest of the staff weren’t there. He speared a piece of battered spicy chicken. “Why not travel in together? You are staying the night I assume?”

Thea put down her fork. “Yes, I’d like to. But I wouldn't want anyone getting the wrong idea. About us.”

“Wrong idea?”

“Well, right idea then. But you know what I mean.”

Tony grinned at her. “Yes, Mrs Richmond. I get your drift. That’ll be fine. I was intending to go in early in any case, so you can take your time.”

Thea picked up her utensil again, relieved he wasn’t going to push her harder on this. He seemed ready to accept her baby steps. “I’ll need to go home first, find some clothes suitable for work. I can hardly show up for my first day in jeans. Or worse still a corset and thong.”

“Do you have a corset with you?” His eyes gleamed with interest. “It’s not your first day, technically. But I can see the corset would cause a stir in the warehouse. We’d probably have more than a few wrecked forklifts to worry about. Our insurance would go through the roof. No, you’re quite right. We have enough difficulties to resolve just now without you adding to them by not adhering to the dress code.”

Despite having started it Thea ignored the sensual banter, preferring to home in on the aspect of the conversation which mattered most to her at this moment. “As far as the rest of your staff are concerned, it’s the first time they’ve seen me. First impressions and all that.” Inwardly she grimaced, this was the part she dreaded most. Resolute, she suppressed her fears and concentrated on the conversation. “So, why are you going in early?”

“Morale’s low. Yesterday everyone just feared the worst, and no one seemed that surprised at the prospect of Dart going under. They lack faith, and I intend to change that. I’ll start by putting myself about, being seen out on the shop floor, so to speak. I want to get to know my