Chapter 24: The Office

Barbara Brown's POV

I was breathing normally when we were inside the building before I drew a sharp breath as I was alone with Brad inside the small space of his office. There was a lot of papers and scientific journal that I think it was nice. I don't think that I can see anything like this.

Haven.

"You can work over there," Brad said coolly as he was directing me to the small space that he was setting up for me. I nodded before I pulled my laptop and some of my notes before Brad walked to the table and took what looked like notes and papers.

My notes and papers.

I was breathing heavily as I was looking at the notes. I have been making some powerful notes that I know will help me to get the funding. I looked at Brad before he was staring at me.

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome," he said as he was standing in front of me. The silence was awkward before I cleared my throat.

Well, best get to it then," I said.

"Of course," he said before he went to his desk and started to make his works. I was opening the laptop and I was looking at the notes and papers. I was making a comparison and contrast of the mineral with something that I know.

I might say the chemical composition was similar to citrine, but it was different. I don't know what to make it but I think I need more information on gems that they have recorded on the known chart.

I stood up as I saw some of the mineralogy books on the shelves and I went to look at some of them. I opened them up and looked for the gem that I was thinking but they were not the same. I can sense that Brad's gaze was on me.

"What are you looking for?" He asked when I smell his sandalwood that was near to me, meaning he was near me, perhaps behind me.

"I was thinking the mineral was in the same composition as the mineral that we might know. But I don't know. I can compare them but I have to take a closer look using spectrometer back in the lab. But of course, you will not let me take some samples for that," I said the last sentence quietly before I was closing the book.

Brad took another book as he was searching with me. I don't think that he would offer me some help as I was to understand that he has his works to deal with.

"Don't you have some works to do?"

"And forget this research. Hell, like I wanted to be in the works right now. This is much more exciting," he said as he was smiling at me. For the first time, after a few days that we've seen each other, he was giving me his charming smile.

And I think I died a little knowing that I will never see that smile again.

Then, at that very moment, my stomach took the timing to embarrass me even more. It was growling and I think my face was heated up by that sound. Brad snapped the book closed and put it on the shelves before he took mine as well.

"Well, I think it was time for a break then. Chinese?" Brad asked me as I was trying to comprehend what he was asking me.

"What?" I asked as I was looking at his devilish face. He smiled at me. I melted even more.

"For food. Are you okay with Chinese?" He asked me as he took out his phone and I nodded. I don't think I have another voice to answer him as he talked into the phone and I went to my desk to do some work before the food was delivered.

20 minutes later, the food was delivered and we were sitting on the floor of Brad's office and we were eating Chinese food. We talked about stuff and for a second, I think I could do this for the rest of my life.

"So, tell me what makes you pursue Geology in the first place?" He asked me as he was dragging some food on his chopsticks. I looked at him and smiled before I took a sip of my beer from the can. The cool brew hit my throat.

"Well, my father is a professor at the UC in the Geology department and I think I have developed this interest at a very young age. I was thinking about the moments when my brothers and I will be walking around the Geology museums and caught a glimpse of our past. Geology taught us that and I have decided that I will do the same for human history as well," I said as I was picking some of my food before I put it into my mouth. Brad nodded before I was looking at him.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Fire away," he said.

"Why you send back when I was not even one day on the site?" I asked before Brad stilled. He swallowed as I looked at his Apple's bum was going up and down. I licked my suddenly dried lips as I was trying to control my heat, lower in my belly.

Shut your desire, Barb. This man is dangerous.

He put his foot down as he turned to look at me. I was gazing into his warm caramel eyes before he was leaning nearer to me.

"Why do you think?"

"And let's not forget that you told my parents that you were calling off the engagement when in truth, we're already married," I whispered breathlessly as I was trying to control my breaths. His scent was consuming me when he was tracing his thumb on my lower lips. My tongue darted out and I licked his thumb. He groaned.

"Damn it, Barbara, you're making this hard than it already is," he whispered huskily as I was looking into his darkened eyes.

Darkened with desire. For me.

"Oh," was the only response that I can say to him before he grunted.

"Don't say that I don't warn you," he whispered as he was coming closer to my lips.

"Now, why would I do that?" I said as he was claiming my mouth. I pushed away from the food as he was on top of me on the floor. I can sense that he was trying to get inside my mouth and I allowed him. His tongue was dueling with mine before he was taking over my mouth.

His taste of the beer that he drank before and I moaned as he was roaming my body. I never think that I can attract a man's attention when I was a tomboy. People greeted me like I was a man but with Brad, he wanted me like I was something to be desired.

A woman in man's clothes.

"God, you taste even better when I last kissed you, Barbara," Brad said as he was drowning in the lust. His eyes were focusing on my face as I can hear my heart was pounding in my head.

"We never consummate our marriage," I said as I was caressing his chest. He closed my eyes as he was trying to restrain himself.

"Don't. Show me what you can give me, Brandon," I said as he opened his eyes and he settled it on my face.

"No regret. Not when I was with you," I said and that was the only thing that can break him from the inside as he took my mouth again before his hands worked on my buttons and pants as well as how I was getting him out of his clothes.

We were drowning in the wanting that we have been denying when I know I can feel that he wanted me more than anything.

More than the discovery of mineral.

More than his reputation.

All for me.

He was kissing my neck and jaws before he was going lower and lower. He took hold of my twin peak when I was trying to control the sound that I was making in the heat of the moment. I was biting my palm before Brad removed it.

"I wanted to hear it. Scream my name, Barbara," he said huskily as he removed my palm and I was moaning loudly in his office. He was nipping my neck as I can sense that his boner was hitting my thigh.

"Have you been with anyone?"

"What?"

"Do you have any lover, Barbara?" He asked as he was kissing my chest and I was looking at him. His darkened eyes were on me before I shook my head. He smirked like the devil he was.

"Good, I'm honor to be your first," he said as he was easing into me. I can tell that he was big and I don't think that I can accommodate him.

"God, you're right," he said as if he was in pain. I looked at him as I was concerned about him.

"Are you okay? Do you hurt?" I asked him before he smiled at me. He was charming and I hated when he will be marrying someone else.

Something ached inside me.

"No, dear, I think I might hurt you even more," he said as I felt something was being torn inside me and I was screaming. Brad kissed me as he wanted to distract my pain and it was successful. I kissed him back and I don't even notice that he was moving in and out of him.

I moaned as I was gripping his buttocks for strength and asked him to thrust into me even more. I was gasping and moaning before Brad was groaning and he was nuzzling my neck when he was breathing hard.

I don't feel anything but when he pinched my needy nub, I was on a wave of pleasure. I gasped before he was nuzzling my neck and I felt something was flowing into me. And I smiled because I know that Brandon Cornwall was claiming me as his.