my chair until the ping came through, barely twenty minutes later.
OMG, Lucas. Just OMFG!!
My reply was sent in a heartbeat.
Send me a picture of you enjoying the gift. I’m waiting.
I hovered around my desk for another few minutes, dragging the wait out as long as possible considering I had a meeting to head into. It seemed she was in the same predicament as I was.
I can’t, her message read. I have a team discussion about Kershaw’s.
My mouth was watering as I typed.
Fuck Kershaw’s. Go to the bathroom and send me that pic.
Another tongue out smiley came through and I waited as long as I dared before I joined Ralph in the meeting room and waited for the rest of the security management team to make their appearance.
The seats were full and conversation was buzzing heavy by the time my phone next vibrated in my pocket. And I couldn’t stop myself sneaking a glance at my photo message. Not for a second.
Oh fuck.
It was fucking glorious.
She had her head tipped to the side, eyes on the camera as she held those panties up nice and high against her open mouth. Her tongue was stretched out and lapping at the filthy crotch, and she was smiling. Smirking. Loving it. Her eyes were twinkling damn fucking bright enough for my balls to ache at the sight.
I need to see you, I typed before the meeting got off to its full start. Fuck this hell, I need to fucking see you.
I’d done my overview of the month’s project and Ralph was onto his presentation by the time my phone buzzed again.
I need to see you, too, she told me. Seriously, Lucas, I couldn’t stay away if I tried.
I forced myself to concentrate through the rest of the management session but my mind was focused on a whole other tune when I arrived back at my desk. I pulled up Maya’s number and mustered up a whole new round of strength as I typed out another new message.
I needed this hell to move forward.
I needed to sort out my damn schedule.
If you don’t tell me when I can see my daughter, I’ll have to find another way to gain access. I mean it. I’m done with this utter bullshit.
I wasn’t expecting a reply so quickly. Not after so much radio silence.
I’m done with this utter bullshit too, Lucas. How about you ask Anna Blackwell what time she can fit Millie in? Oh, except you can fuck off. Millie is busy with me this weekend. We’re going away.
I tossed my phone across the desk.
Thank you, Hannah fucking Ames.
Just what this situation fucking needed.
I caught my breath and thought out my options before I opted for another message.
I’d play hardball. I was out of choices with no pot to piss in. Not anymore.
I fucking mean it, Maya. I’ll find another way to gain access. I’m not staying away from Millie.
Whatever I expected in response was nothing as simple or as bold as the text that pinged back through.
It said it all, and I was scared as I read it. Really fucking scared of what lay ahead.
You can try, Lucas. Stay away from Anna Blackwell, or I’ll see you in court.
Jesus fucking Christ.
The stormy sky just got a hell of a whole load darker overhead.
But still, I couldn’t stay away from Anna Blackwell. No matter how hard Maya lashed out at me.
Anna’s was the number I next called up, and my words were as just as needy as my thoughts.
I’ll be wherever you want me to be, sweetheart. Just tell me when. And make it damn quick.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Anna
It had been a long week. Seriously long.
I’d been playing smiles and trying to avoid tough conversations with just about everyone who would tell me that Lucas was the world’s biggest prick over and over. I’d been trying to keep myself in line, and sleep, and eat, and do well at work without going crazy, and I’d managed it. Just one little blip of a seizure while I was waiting to go into a meeting on Thursday. I could cope with that.
But over the top of it all, I’d been trying to survive on nothing but a stream of text messages from Lucas as the days wore on.
I was totally sick of it and needed more.
But it wouldn’t be that night, not while Nicola was hosting her girls’ night at hers and I’d promised I was going. I dressed up in one of my decent red dresses and styled my hair