“I think they won’t bail anytime soon or easily. Suying is always ‘my family first,’ and I get the feeling that Manager Huo is the same. Those three are glued together, and maybe the reality is we will need to move in with them in one large house.” Qian jested. He pitied Tian, trying to get real time from her, as she seemed worse than Suying, for putting every tiny detail of their family before a date. Qian had to fit into Suying’s priorities, and many of their dates happened when Yue was at school because of her weird work schedule. He had taken days off work to ensure they could date.
“Hmmm.” Kai sunk back into his seat and tapped his fingers on the table. Thinking about the what-ifs and regrets ever-present swirled up inside him. He knew Meilei would never ask him to be a part of her life that way. He had no illusions she would never allow more than civil interactions over Yue and keep him at arm’s length. He envied his cousin for freely going after the woman he loved, making plans, and having hopes for their life together. He had once been that guy, and he ruined everything.
“Come on… let’s go get some real food. These aren’t cutting it.” Qian had nibbled on a croissant but wanted something hot and greasy even though it was not noon yet. “We can leave Tian to finish whatever he needs to finish and talk to him later.” Qian couldn’t help the reignition of the cheeky smirk and knowing wink, and Kai shook his head, reminded of what their kinky mate was doing, sliding up out of his chair to follow.
Tian was casually perched on the edge of his desk, regaining his calm and cool, buttoning up his shirt from the bottom edge with a vast expanse of tanned abs on show while his eyes were on Ling a foot away. She was matched in task, redoing her blouse only was on the last clasp, her cleavage flushed red from exertion. She had a healthy and rosy glow that reached up her long, slender neck and over her cheeks, which were evidence of exertion. He smiled to himself in a soft, breathy chuckle that he had put that satisfied expression on her face and was basking in the after-effects of the best sex of his life. Tian didn’t regret it this time and was already mentally planning when they could meet again for a repeat. He was sated and finally could put all his frustration to rest that she had caused him these past weeks.
Drunken sex had been mind-blowing; sober sex had even managed to outshine that.
“What now?” Ling broke the comfortable silence that had played out while they got dressed again with a sassy and direct stare, brushed her fingers through her hair to take out the wildness he caused. Her lipstick was completely gone and left the smudges and puffiness of a set of well-kissed lips. “Was this a see where we go kinda deal, or are you now satisfied and it’s a see you around kinda deal?” Ling was straight to the point, not needing guessing games and confusion. She could admit that after this, she wanted him again, but she wasn’t the type to hang over a man who only wanted a one-time booty call. If that’s what this was, she would pretend he ceased to exist with no qualms over it.
Tian abandoned his half-done shirt and stood up, closing the gap between them with a confident step, and impulsively reached out to cup her cheek in his palm to pull her closer. He leaned in, kissing her gently on those inviting lips, so ripe for this pleasure and relaxed. A soft brushing that drew a sigh from her, and her lashes fluttered with the gentle intimacy of his sudden action.
Cool, unwavering, calm, and annoyingly commandeering by day but a fierce hot fox between the sheets.
He finally let her go after gazing at her long and hard with an infuriating smirk that reminded her of how equally strong the urge was to knee him in the balls. She didn’t forget how pissy he could make her just because she orgasmed a few times.
As a businessman with a shrewd money-making mind, he liked her no-bullshit, almost contractual approach to setting up the rules. Saved him the later headaches of realizing he couldn’t stand her expectations of him.
Ling was all about loyalty. Life had taught her that very humans could be relied upon.
“Fine by me. I have no energy or interest in dealing with other women. You are more than enough headache in one body.” Tian was only half joking, and his wry smile told her so. Ling smirked even though she was sure it was supposed to be an insult. It wasn’t. He was not exactly an easy man to put up with either.
“I won’t change what I wear, how I act, or how I do my job.” All were little issues that became huge ones with previous men. If smiles at creepy men in suits were needed to coerce a client, she would smile at them.
“I won’t sneak around either, even if we are unofficial. I won’t go out of my way to announce we are a thing, but I won’t actively try to hide it. I am not about that life. I am not a dirty secret.”
Tian stopped mid-tie knotting and raised a brow at her before a slight smile broke his masculine features, and he continued. Amused.
“I don’t need you to take care of me, solve my problems, be my sugar daddy, or interfere in my life if I don’t ask for it. I’m self-reliant, and I can handle shit in my own way. I have my own money. I don’t particularly appreciate controlling men who undermine me or my decisions. I’m not some feeble woman who will ever need a man on a white horse riding in. I won’t ever ask for it.” She had to be clear on this, given her last relationship became a hot mess because he treated her like an airhead despite having a better job than him. His ego could not handle the fact she relied on him for nothing.
“A woman who dates me purely for my company and no other catches or demands? What’s to dislike?” Tian was entertained by the little list of warnings given not a single one was a no for him. If anything, he started to think that Ling might be the woman he had never imagined existed. Perfect for him and what he had given up wishing for.
Seeing her stall with no more demands, Tian assumed she was done and continued.
“If you email me your Yue schedule for all scenarios, I’ll plan accordingly. And nine is fine. I’ll text you my address.” Tian was happy with that arrangement. Sleeping over meant a redo of the last two hours so soon, and he was not about to turn that down. She was addictive, and despite thinking he had curbed the craving with every position he could in this office, he was already looking her up and down and wanting it all over again. For someone who pressed all his temper buttons and gave him stress headaches, he had to admit, she was pretty spectacular.
“That’s it?” Ling asked, still speculating if he was deaf or agreeing to get her out of his office.
Tian was not opposed to his bond with Yue growing with the weekend access and could understand how someone raising her from a baby would be so attached to her like her mother was. He had no intention of interfering with that. Yue was a special little girl who had taught Tian the joy of children and the importance of never letting them down. Watching how she had changed Kai’s whole life and became so important in all things, he understood why this was non-negotiable for Ling. Yue was more than just a child she lived with, she was like a daughter to her.
Ling couldn’t find a response, given how matter-of-fact, calm, and compliant he was being. She thrust her bust out and gazed around at the room, which now hid any evidence of the chaos they had created in getting passionately undressed. Perplexed that she didn’t expect how often this man could shut her up with surprise reactions. It had been the same in the copier room when he let her tell Meilei’s side of the story.
The office seemed immaculate once more.
Tian had straightened the couches and pillows after they had lain there to recover in one another’s arms for a while. Pushing things back in place as he gathered their clothes in all his naked glory. Not shy about walking around while she got up and pulled herself back together, given she had just seen every angle of him anyone possibly could and licked, touched, sucked, and grabbed way more.
Nothing was out of place, and he had cracked the windows and drawn the blinds enough to air the room and bring in a little light without exposing them to facing office buildings.