“I love you, Ian. When I thought I could never love again, you made me love you. I love you so much.”
His lips twitched into a smile like his mind was catching up to his body and wasn’t sure to believe me yet, but eventually, he was beaming.
Before I could react, he was opening the glass door. “Damn, woman. Get your sexy self in here and kiss me.”
“Ian,” I screamed when he tugged me in, clothes and all, and kissed me. He had to bend his knees so he could keep Audrey propped on his chest and devoured my lips. His tongue brushed mine, but he quickly pulled back with a growl, resting his forehead to mine.
“I love you. Fuck, I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
As if Audrey could sense the moment and wanted to be part of it, she let out a little baby coo, pulling out attention to her.
“Don’t worry, baby girl. I love you too.” He kissed her dark head of hair before turning molten eyes to mine. “But spa day is over. Daddy is going to dry you off, rock you to the fastest sleep you’ve ever taken, and then I’m going to come back to Mommy and make love to her against this shower wall.”
My legs rubbed together in anticipation.
“Better hurry,” I whispered.
He stepped out and wrapped Audrey in a towel, slipping on a pair of pants and pointing at me before walking out. “You get naked and don’t touch that pussy until I get back.”
“That’s not fun.”
“It will be. Promise. I have plans.”
“I love you.”
“I’m going to make you scream that.”
“Good.”
“I love you too.”
Audrey must have got the message because he was back by the time I was done washing up. He stepped in the shower, stroking his length, prowling toward me until I was pressed against the wall.
“Now, where were we?”
“I believe you were going to fuck me until I confessed my love. But I’m not sure you can.”
A low chuckle vibrated from his chest. “Challenge accepted, Miss Russo.”
A challenge he completed again and again.
Epilogue
Carina
“If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go bang my fiancée in the office now.”
I jerked wide eyes to Ian. “Oh, my god, Ian.”
Erik and Jared just shook their heads, laughing.
“I’m not your fiancée.”
Not that I didn’t necessarily want to be, but we weren’t there yet. Also, I wanted an epic wedding—Meghan Markle style, and between the opening of the London office and getting the new department set up for Wellington and Russo, I could barely do mediocre.
“I know,” Ian agreed readily, a devious smile tilting his full lips. “But I figured I could distract you with that and get away with banging you. Also, maybe if I say it enough, it will come true.”
“Jesus,” Jared muttered.
“So, desk sex it is.”
“Just keep it down, kids,” Erik warned. “I think poor Laura has been traumatized by the sounds coming from your office.”
My face flushed and I glared at Ian for constantly cornering me into office sex. It wasn’t hard, but still.
“Laura?” Jared almost shouted. “I’m the one between your two offices. I’m the one traumatized. You’re both loud.”
His eyes bounced between Erik and Ian, and neither man looked bothered.
“On that note…” I said, shouldering my bag and heading to the door.
“I’ll be taking a long lunch break,” Ian explained behind me.
When I stepped out of the office, I came to a halt, finding Hanna standing by Ian’s door. She briefly met my eyes and then looked down at her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles were turning white.
“Oh, umm,” Ian stuttered behind me. “Can this wait, Hanna?”
Her eyes flicked to mine, and I did nothing to hide my anger. “I was actually hoping to talk to Carina.”
“That’s uh…up to Carina.”
I could feel Ian’s discomfort from behind me, but I also felt his support. If I wanted Hanna gone, he would make it happen. I loved him all the more for it, but the tension had lasted long enough in the silence.
“We can talk.”
“You can use my office. I have to run some things by Jared.”
Hanna nodded and swallowed. We stepped into the office, and I closed the door. She looked at me as if I was a tiger waiting to pounce, and maybe I was. I wasn’t going to lie; I was hesitant to assume what this conversation would be about. I’d thought I understood Hanna, but she’d proven me wrong at every turn, so I stood with my arms crossed, not giving an ounce of what I was thinking away.
“I’m so sorry,” she said softly. When I didn’t answer, she lifted remorseful eyes to mine, and still, I didn’t yield. “I know Ian told you what happened to me, and I foolishly convinced myself that the comfort I felt for Ian was love. Not that I’m trying to make excuses because none of it matters. All that matters is that I was wrong—so fucking wrong—and that I’m sorry.”
I softened my stance, dropping my arms to my sides, but still stood frozen. After a deep, shaky breath, she continued.
“Ian is my family, but you’re his. I know I don’t have a right to ask, but I was hoping you could eventually forgive me so we could at least be cordial.”
If I knew one thing, it was that comfort made us do crazy things. Like stay engaged to your best friend and suggest a threesome to make it work. We all make mistakes, and looking at Hanna trying to be bold enough to apologize for hers had me deciding I could be woman enough to forgive her.
“What you did was shitty.”
“I know,” she said, holding her chin high even if it did tremble a bit.
“It was wrong.”
“I know.”
I took a step forward and pointed a finger in warning. “And if you ever pull shit like that again, I will rain hell down on you.”
“That’s fair.”
Stepping back, I relaxed but still gave a hard stare. “So, don’t fuck it up and keep your hands to yourself and I think we’ll be okay.”
For the first time, her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you, Carina.”
“We’re not friends,” I clarified. “At least not right now.”
“It’s more than I deserve.”
“It is.”
We stood a moment longer taking each other in before Hanna broke the silence.
“Okay. I just wanted to apologize. I’ll leave you to it.” She stepped around me, but I stopped her just as her hand turned the handle.
“Hanna.” She turned over her shoulder. “The financial spreadsheet you created was amazing. I hope you don’t mind if I use it for the boys at Wellington and Russo.”
One side of her mouth ticked up. “Thank you. And go ahead. Just make sure they know a woman schooled them on how to do it best.”
“Of course.”
We all made mistakes, and I wasn’t sure Hanna and I would ever be close. But we had an understanding and us women needed to at least have each other’s backs in the office. I just hoped one day I could trust her enough to have my back outside of it too because strong lady friendships were where it was at.