Bred by the CEO (Breeding Season Book 10) Read online

  This place was too good for her, and she was sure people were staring, judging.

  Darius’s calming, solid presence was the only thing grounding her.

  “You look preoccupied,” he finally said.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

  “Something on your mind?” he asked.

  “I just hope I can fill Ross’s shoes without disappointing you. All the change lately has really thrown me out of my comfort zone.” She knew it was a mistake to tell her boss she was overwhelmed, but he made it so easy to lower her guards.

  He propped his elbow on the table, rubbing the new stubble on his chin. “You don’t like change? Would you have preferred to stay in B2 accounting?”

  “No, that’s not what I mean. I have drive and ambition. I put myself through school because I wanted to make something of my life. It’s just when changes strike, especially ones this life-altering, I can get a bit overwhelmed. I can handle the job, I just feel like I don’t deserve to be here.”

  “You expect the worst from people.”

  “I tend to.”

  “That’s because everyone’s always let you down. Not all men are created equal, Rose. You’ll have to learn to trust just a little bit. Trust me.”

  She swallowed, suddenly not getting enough air. Once again, she was a vulnerable six-year-old dying to be loved and accepted. The urge to belong was overpowering. It didn’t help that she often looked different from the kids at school. The foster mothers didn’t even attempt to work with her hair, so she always went to class a mess. Her skin, hair, and eyes darker. She never thought much of it until the kids started teasing her. That was the start of her self-esteem issues.

  As a pre-teen, she started eating, packing on the pounds. It was a self-destructive spiral she had no way of stopping. She refused to accept a compliment, never trusted, and refused charity. Rose worked her ass off from that first day she escaped the foster-care system.

  Even though she hadn’t reached her goals, she was well on her way to making something of her life. This new promotion was a real boost, but the sudden responsibility mixed with whispers and insults left her feeling unsure of her abilities.

  “I trust no one, not even myself,” she quoted.

  “Stalin.”

  She smiled.

  “I’m a history buff. We can’t change the future by forgetting the past. I’ve been busy the past few years during the growth of the company, but it’s a passion of mine.”

  “You should always give your passions time in your life,” she said. “You should definitely get back to reading.”

  He tilted his head to the side, the candlelight highlighting his chiseled features. God, he was handsome, pure masculinity. “What are your passions, Rose?”

  She looked down, thinking, coming up empty. “Survival.”

  He scoffed. “You’re not an animal. We’ll have to work on your focus. Think about what makes you happy and you’ll figure it out.”

  What did make her happy? Doing things people said she’d never achieve? But, yes, mostly survival, which wasn’t much of a life. She rarely even entertained fantasies such as true love because she honestly didn’t know what love felt like.

  The waitress appeared, and she hadn’t realized how close they’d gotten to each other, practically leaning over the table toward the center. They pulled apart and ordered their food. She was glad for the respite. She’d never been good at exploring her feelings. There was too much baggage locked in dark places.

  They ate their appetizers, more silence than words. It seemed everyone in the restaurant was bubbly and light-hearted—not them. Was it her fault? Was she ruining her chance at being his assistant?

  “Have you seen Elliot lately?

  He cleaned the corner of his mouth with the cloth napkin, then focused on her with the intensity of the sun. “I don’t want to talk about Elliot.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry, you didn’t do anything wrong.” He reached across the small table, tilting her chin up. She had a tendency to look to the ground rather than make eye contact with people. “If we’re going to spend a lot of time together, you need to relax. Stop worrying about everything I think or do.”

  “You’re my boss.”

  He made a sound almost like a growl of disapproval. “Don’t think of me as your boss.”

  “Okay. I’ll try,” she said.

  What was she supposed to think of him as? She could imagine a few things in her fantasies. If only he thought of her in the sinful ways she thought of him, they could take this to a new level, a new beginning.

  Daydreams didn’t get a woman anywhere. Only action and hard work made a difference.

  Their meals came. Everything looked and smelled divine. The waitress offered one of their best bottles of red wine. Darius nodded, and their glasses were filled partway before the waitress left.

  Every bite of food was like a mini orgasm. She’d never eaten so well in her life. “It’s so good,” she said.

  He smiled, and she really felt like he enjoyed her company, which was a first. Most people tolerated her, nothing more. She certainly couldn’t trust enough to date men.

  “Darius Blackwood?”

  They both turned to the side at once. A tall woman with blonde hair in a perfectly messy bun and wearing a long silver dress gushed over Darius. She bent over, touching his shoulder, getting into his personal space. It made Rose squirm with a territorial claim she had no right feeling.

  “Susan,” he said.

  “I thought it was you, but I had to know for sure. It’s been ages.”

  Susan didn’t even acknowledge Rose’s existence, but, then again, she was used to it.

  “Rose, this is Susan Riddlen, an old business associate,” Darius said.

  “Old?” She laughed, a fake, grating sound. “It hasn’t been that long, has it?”

  He continued. “Susan, my assistant Rose Henshaw.”

  She stopped and finally looked at Rose, doing a quick up and down with just her eyes. “I knew it had to be something like that. Everyone at my table had their own ideas. My guess was secretary, but it’s not secretary’s day, is it?” Susan laughed again.

  What a bitch.

  “Well, that sounds as interesting as fuck,” he said flatly.

  She huffed, holding her chest as if taken aback. “I should let you eat.”

  He didn’t say anything more, just returned to his meal.

  Rose’s stomach was still in knots. Anger, embarrassment, and some sadness at what could never be.

  He didn’t request the dessert menu after eating, just the bill. They’d both been quiet and awkward since Susan’s visit at their table. She didn’t think any of this could work out. What Darius needed was a woman who could blend well in his world, and she couldn’t blend.

  They walked down the posh yet dim hallway to where the valets brought the vehicles. But he stopped dead midway. She nearly slammed into the back of him.

  “I’m sorry about what happened earlier, Rose.”

  “What?”

  “That bitch with the mouth.”

  She shrugged. “Nothing to be sorry about.” Why did she feel stupid, traitorous tears filling her eyes? She couldn’t let ignorant people have so much power over her. After twenty-nine years, she thought she was numb to all this bullshit.

  This time, Darius turned her by the shoulder, pressing her back to the wall and pinning her in place. She was taken aback, shocked by their proximity.

  “Stop acting like a damn robot. I know you’re hiding your feelings from me. It’s obvious. There’s nothing wrong with being pissed off. I know I was.”

  “She’s right. I don’t belong here.”

  “Tell me why.” His voice was deep and demanding. Those black eyes intense as he awaited a concrete answer.

  It was embarrassing, but the man wanted the whole truth. “I’m not like the women here. I’m living paycheck to paycheck, I’m overweight, and I’m not exactly a Barbie do
ll, if you haven’t noticed. More than half the women here probably have a cosmetic surgeon on speed dial. That woman’s shoes alone cost more than everything I own.”

  Her passion was getting ahead of her logic. She’d screw this up for herself with her big mouth.

  He just stared.

  Say something, dammit.

  “You think I want a plastic woman? Some rich bitch with nothing on her mind but keeping up with the latest fashion trends?”

  “I don’t know. I assume that’s what men want. Men like you aren’t interested in women like me.”

  Of course, she could dream—she had. Men like Darius Blackwood didn’t sweep big brown girls off their feet and carry them off into the sunset. It was just a fact of life.

  “You think I’m that superficial?”

  “Attraction is physical. It’s only human nature.”

  “Yes, you’re exactly right, Miss Henshaw. Attraction is physical.”

  Even he couldn’t deny the fact the women in the office, the restaurant, everywhere in his world, were gorgeous and modelesque. Tall, thin, and perfectly coiffed.

  He leaned in, kissing her on the mouth.

  Every muscle in her body relaxed as if craving this moment like air. His mouth was soft but thorough. When he pulled back, she could hardly stand upright, her knees weak. She was speechless, too shocked to even process what just happened.

  “For your information, Rose, I’m not that fucking shallow. If you must know, I’ve been battling my need to keep professional and wanting to ask you on a real date. You’re exactly what I’m looking for—physically and in everything else that matters. I want a woman with gorgeous curves, and until now, I didn’t realize how much I want a mocha-skinned beauty exactly like you.”

  She was unable to form words.

  Was she going to wake up at any minute, her alarm pulling her out of sleep?

  ****

  What had he done?

  Darius should have been mortified by that kiss, but he wasn’t. It felt right. He’d been wanting to do that ever since he first met Rose on the “take your kids to work” day. Once she started putting herself down, he couldn’t stand it another second. Not when she made his dick hard just by existing.

  She was a bombshell, with an ass that wouldn’t quit and tits he dreamed about when alone at night. He wasn’t the type of man who wanted thin or athletic women. He craved curves, the more, the better. And Rose was exceptionally beautiful without even realizing it. He couldn’t stand conceited women glued to a mirror and expecting men to jump hoops for them.

  But now what?

  She wasn’t saying a thing. Had he acted inappropriately? He was her boss, after all. At the moment, he swore they were on the same page, an undeniable attraction growing between them. Had he been wrong all along? Did she see him as an old, inappropriate bastard?

  “Say something,” he finally said.

  “You made a mistake. I understand.”

  “It wasn’t a mistake.”

  She looked up and made eye contact.

  “If you tell me you hated that, I swear it will never happen again. I’ll be professional to a fault.” He took a breath. “Otherwise, I really need to know how you feel.”

  “I’m not sure what I should be feeling.”

  He spun away, running a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry, Rose. I should never have put you in this position. I’m not the kind of man who hits on his subordinates. Never have.”

  “I’m not upset, just surprised,” she said.

  Darius returned his attention to her. The whole world had gone away, his entire focus on her.

  “The next move is yours,” he said.

  “That was my first kiss.”

  His cock instantly firmed up. She was so damn adorable and innocent while being sexier than she could possibly know. “Are you mad at me? Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

  “It’s just hard to believe you’re sincere.”

  “About you? Are you kidding me? Call it whatever you want, love at first sight or fate, but I knew I had to have you from the first day I met you.”

  “I’m not that kind of girl,” she said. “I can’t be bought. And I won’t sell my body for any price.”

  He smiled, he couldn’t help himself. “Baby, I’m forty-six. I’m looking for something real, something lasting. I’m hoping that woman could be you, but I also don’t want to force a gorgeous young woman to settle for something she doesn’t want.”

  “I do want you,” she blurted.

  He raised a brow. “I see.” Honestly, he wasn’t expecting that. He thought he’d royally fucked everything up. Not to mention he’d been convinced she wasn’t interested. “That changes things.”

  “What happens now?”

  “Well, I’d like to start by taking you on a real date. How about dessert?”

  “Excuse me?” she asked.

  “Dessert. There are quite a few nice places in walking distance.”

  “Oh. Right. Yes, I’d love that.”

  He reached out his hand, and she took it. Damn, since when did handholding feel this intimate?

  They went the other way up the hall to escape to the street. It was bustling at this time of evening, a line growing outside the restaurant as well. He felt a huge weight off his shoulders. Rose was by his side, and he couldn’t be prouder as numerous sets of eyes turned in their direction. They may be opposites in most ways, but didn’t opposites attract?

  He gave her hand a little squeeze. “You’re sure you’re not just trying to appease an old man?” Darius was only half teasing.

  “You don’t look old to me.”

  “There’s quite an age difference between us.” He didn’t want any issues to come back and bite him in the ass.

  “Does it bother you?” she asked.

  “Not one bit. You’re the one getting the short end of the stick in this relationship.”

  “I don’t think so.” Rose’s arm brushed his as they walked. “You’re wise and mature. What do I need with boys?”

  “I like that answer.” He lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of hers.

  He couldn’t believe this angel was giving him a chance. Darius already had her first kiss and he had plenty more firsts in store for her. But he had to take his time, show her he wasn’t looking for only one thing.

  They walked near an ice cream booth, and he caught her looking. He stopped and nodded toward it. “What do you think?”

  She bit her lower lip. “Aren’t we overdressed?”

  “There aren’t any rules. If we want ice cream, we get ice cream. Formal wear or not.”

  “Okay, then. My favorite is chocolate.”

  “Mine too.” He wasn’t talking about the flavor, and by the way her lush lips parted, she knew exactly what he meant. Especially when he ordered strawberry.

  They sat on a nearby bench and ate their ice cream. Every move of her mouth and tongue drove him crazy. He liked everything about this—the music playing from one of the tourist shops, the people, the warm breeze, and the woman beside him. It was a perfect evening. And he knew damn well most women in his circle would be insulted by the mere thought of sitting on a public bench in front of an ice cream shop.

  Rose was perfection.

  They’d finished their ice cream, enjoying a street performer across the road. An older woman walked by selling single roses. Darius didn’t hesitate, immediately reaching for the wallet in his back pocket. He chose a red one to match the passion he felt for her.

  “A rose for my Rose,” he said, passing it to her. She held it close, closing her eyes to smell the flower.

  “Thank you … for everything.”

  She grabbed the lapel of his jacket. He thought she was adjusting something, but it was more than that. He could feel her desire before seeing it for himself in her eyes. He leaned down, wrapping an arm around her waist as he kissed her again. This time slower, deeper, with a promise attached.

  Rose pulled him down to
her level. His hand slipped lower, getting a feel of her full ass. He wasn’t disappointed but wanted so much more. Darius trailed kisses along her jaw before shelling the rim of her ear with his tongue.

  She moaned aloud, her body pressing into his.

  They were like a rock in a river, people moving around them on the sidewalk. “We should go. Some things are better behind closed doors,” he whispered against her ear.

  As if not realizing where they were, she pulled back and looked around.

  “I can drive you home or we can go somewhere else,” he said.

  They walked back to the restaurant where his car was parked.

  “What about your place?”

  He wasn’t expecting that answer. Not from an innocent virgin like Rose. He was taken aback, not sure what to say. So he said nothing at all.

  The valet brought his car around. Once they were both inside the hushed interior, he turned slightly toward her. “I’ll drive you home. We have an early start tomorrow.”

  She looked disappointed, her brow briefly furrowing. “If that’s what you want.”

  “Trust me, it’s not what I want. Not by a long shot. But the gentleman in me says it’s the right thing to do.” He reached over and ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek. “No need to rush things. If I bring you to my condo, you won’t be leaving until morning.”

  Chapter Six

  Darius had been the perfect gentleman.

  His kiss had burned her lips, leaving them swollen, and Rose had spent way too long in front of the mirror, touching her mouth and thinking about that kiss.

  Her first one ever.

  After the shock had worn off, along with the delirium of being attracted to her boss, the panic had set in.

  She shouldn’t have kissed her boss. Everyone at work already thought she’d been sleeping with him, and now, well, it wasn’t exactly hard to imagine it. She hadn’t pushed him away. Not repelled his advances. Instead, she’d accepted him, wanted him, had even been disappointed when he didn’t want to take her home.