Chapter Two

LAYKEN 

If only it were Friday - that way I could take a break. I'm so swamped with work that I would end up working from my home office if I were to leave. There wouldn't be any relaxation going on. I'm glad I don't have to answer to anyone or have anyone breathing down my neck when I get home.

Who am I trying to fool? It would bring me immense pleasure to get married and have children of my own someday. But given that I'm the CEO and sole proprietor of a billion-dollar law firm, that will never be an option for me. I had almost no time for sleep, let alone enough energy for a relationship. 

To experience such a passionate love that it hurts would be incredible, though. Being in love with someone is not something I have had the pleasure of experiencing. I've never felt such a powerful connection with a female. Oh, but I have lusted after women, but everything's going stale. Sex doesn't seem to fulfill my needs anymore. I need something genuine. One woman, to devote myself to and make love to for the rest of my life. Having sex with someone used to be spectacular, but now, nothing seems to cure that raw ache. That hunger for passion and adoration. It doesn't help that most women are just out for my money, either. The dating scene in Austin is a shit-storm.

I try to relax and take my mind off things by counting my breaths, but then I hear the knocks on my office door and my heart sinks. Anything I could give, I would, just for a few moments of peace. It won't be happening, though.

"What is it, Jillian?"

Jillian cautiously opens the door and peeks her head inside. "Mr. Langley, your one o'clock appointment has arrived. Is it alright if I send them in?"

"Yes, that would be great. I'm sorry for being a jerk."

"This week has been sheer chaos." She told me not to worry, assuring me she understood, then she went to fetch my next client in a hurry.

I used to love being a lawyer, but now, most days, I wish I could put a spike through my head. Working with the partners I have, we must employ some new blood to handle some of the workload. This was quickly beginning to spiral out of control.

Something about Jillian's page at four made me feel like shouting. I tapped the button on the intercom. "I'm not to be bothered for the next thirty minutes. What's going on?"

"Your sister is waiting for you on line two. She said if you didn't answer her call, she was going to castrate you."

"This isn't something I can fit into my schedule. Is it Tambre or Tenley?"

"It is Tenley, sir."

"Transfer the call, please."

Out of all my siblings, Tenley is the youngest and my favorite. If it had been Tambre, I would have asked Jillian to take a message.

"Is everything alright, Tenley?"

"Yes, however, I have not seen or heard from you in forever. We live in the same town, Layken. I'm done with my shift at six. Do you think you could come to the restaurant once you're off? We could get some grub and chat? I'm missing my brother."

"My workday ends at six. If it's not a problem for you to wait, I could be there by seven."

"Sounds great to me." Tenley said her goodbyes and cut the conversation short before I had time to respond.

The last two hours I spent in the office weren't simple and didn't pass quickly, even if I wished they had. During the last two hours, I had been talking to two new clients, whose issues would be both complicated and long-lasting.

"Jillian, we won't be taking on any new clients, understood? Forward them to Joseph or Kyle. They're overwhelmed like us, but not to the same extent. It's important that we have our client list up to date. I'm aware I have two new clients coming in tomorrow, correct? So after that, we're done until we have handled our other cases."

"I'm on board. I'm on the verge of ripping my hair out, Layken."

"We can't have that now, can we? I'm glad we are on the same page. I have reached my limit. You must understand what I mean. With the amount of stress making you want to rip out your hair and all."

"Yeah, but we can handle this."

"I'm aware it isn't six yet. We should get out of here before something else comes up, Jillian."

"You won't see me objecting," she said, standing and collecting her briefcase.

***

"Will anyone be accompanying you this evening, Layken?" Natasha asked, grinning from ear to ear. As if she wasn't already aware, I was stopping by to see my sister.

"I'm just here to have dinner with my sister Tenley tonight, that's all."

"I'll bring you to a booth and then I'll go get her. With all the commotion, she has been aiding the other waitresses."

"That would be great. Thank you, Natasha." Her cheeks blushed when I smirked and winked.

Natasha directed me towards a booth. I breathed in deeply a few times to calm down while I waited for Tenley and a server to appear. All I want right now is a beer. A sudden change in the atmosphere compelled me to turn my head. I beamed up at Tenley as she approached. Then the most beautiful woman I had ever seen materialized behind her.

Her eyes, a luminous light grey, were captivating, widening as we gazed at one another. They enchanted me, and my heart thrashed wildly inside my chest, almost to the point of bursting. She secured her long, dark brown hair into a ponytail, but a few strands escaped and cascaded over her prominent high cheekbones. I wish I could get up and move the strands of hair to her ear and touch what appears to be velvety skin.

"Earth to Layken! Hey brother, what's wrong with you? Have you heard a damn thing I just said?"

I blinked a few times and gazed over at my baby sister's displeased look and couldn't keep from chuckling. "Sorry, Tenley, I spaced out there for a moment. It has been a very long, well, you know me."

"Yeah, which is why you're here. You could suffer a heart attack before you reach the age of thirty-five if you keep this up. Harper dear, would you mind getting my brother a beer? Jordan at the bar knows what he likes."

"Sure, and what can I get for you?"

"Some sweet tea with lemon, please."

"Ok, here are your menus. I'll be back momentarily with your drinks."

Her voice is soft with a hint of bashfulness, and I wonder what she would sound like in the throes of passion as I buried myself deep inside her depths. She's petite, maybe a little over five feet tall, meaning she might come to my shoulders and slender. I would need to put some meat on those bones. I love the fact that I now knew her name: Harper. A flawless name for such an angel. I watched as she walked off and noticed that despite the rest of her body being slender. Her ass sure as hell wasn't. I am an ass man. As long as a woman's bust fit comfortably within my hands. I didn't much care for big-breasted women, and hers seem to be the ideal size. Not that I was looking.

"Don't even think about it. She is probably leaving on Monday, and I know little, but I know that she just turned eighteen."

"What?"

"Did you pick up on what I just said, or do I need to go over it once more?"

"What you said registered with me. She just celebrated her eighteenth birthday, and she's leaving."

"I have never seen you regard anyone in that fashion. You need a woman to warm your bed at night."

"Not you, too. You're the only one that has always been on my side."

"I'm not giving you the same criticism that everyone else is. It's obvious you are fighting loneliness and trying to occupy your time with an abundance of work. And sleeping around."

"I'm going to take it easy from here on out. No more meaningless sex either. I'm done with all that."

"It will never happen. You can deceive yourself all day, but not me, Layken."

Harper reappeared with our drinks at that moment. Our fingers brushed together as I reached to grab my beer. A jolt of electricity shot up my arm, and Harper hitched a breath as her gaze collided with my own. She quickly recovered to set Tenley's drink down. Harper had to have felt what I had; there was no doubt about it.

"So, what can I get you two?"

Harper acted as if I didn't exist as she conversed with Tenley.

"Layken and I are the least demanding customers you will ever come across. We always opt for the special, that is on the menu for that day. No matter what day it is or what the special for that day happens to be." Tenley looked up at Harper, grinning, and suggested that Brett had likely finished preparing our orders already.

Harper grinned and dashed off, promising to return shortly with our orders.

"Harper has an angelic quality, but she doesn't talk much about herself. She appears to be introverted. Told us earlier, she has been traveling around for a month, looking into colleges. Oddly enough, though. She left the cool building and waited in her car. Instead of getting something to eat and waiting inside for twenty minutes until her shift began. It's scorching hot outside. I don't understand why she would do such a thing."

Harper brought our food out to us, and Tenley and I chatted for a while. Harper did a great job at keeping the beers coming, and I hadn't realized the time that had gone by. I observed as Harper took her food to a table in a corner and devoured it like she hadn't eaten in days.

"I am driving you home. It's after eight; we should go," Tenley said as she got up.

"Can you make sure she gets this? I have a feeling she needs it," I said as I handed a hundred dollars to Tenley and walked over to pay our bill.

I glanced back to see Tenley sitting and talking to Harper as I paid the bill, but I couldn't tell if Tenley had given her the money or not.

"She wouldn't take it at first, but I made her. After we talked for a bit and she told me she was going to be staying in her car tonight."

"What?!"

"Yeah, I know."

"You have a couch, Tenley. Help her out with a place to stay."

"She is a stranger, and I just gave her a hundred dollars. I'm sure she will be fine. Come on, let's go," Tenley said as she dragged me out of the cafe.

Leaving Harper venerable and alone is driving me insane. Continuing the argument wouldn't end the way I would hope. My alcohol consumption has left me inebriated as well. Nothing good ever comes from doing anything hasty after you have had a few. So reluctantly, I left her behind and followed Tenley out of the door. Glanced back to see Harper release a breath as she consumed her meal. Maybe I should have given more. Would she be okay? Fuck, this is torture!

***

This day was kicking my ass, and I couldn't get Harper off my mind. Those light grey eyes, with flecks of gold within them. Her smile and the way her voice rang sweetly in my ears. She appeared as if she might need to add a few pounds, yet in every other way, she was the most stunning woman I had ever seen. But I was too old for her. Tenley had told me what little she knew about Harper, one of those things being that she had just turned eighteen. What are the odds that I would have a profound connection with someone, and she would be too young for me? I had to see her again, watch her from afar, and wish but not to take action. I banged my throbbing head on my desk, for resembling a creepy stalker all of a sudden.

These consecutive meetings and court proceedings. Are causing a throbbing in my skull that even muscle relaxers couldn't ease. I picked up my phone, pushed the button to page Jillian, and massaged my temples as I waited for her. Could I have gotten her since her small cubicle is right next door, yes? But I had zero patience today, so Jillian would have to approach me. A minute later, I heard the gentle rapping on my office entrance, letting me know she had arrived.

"You may enter," I shouted, and Jillian walked in with her scheduler and pen in hand. Waiting for me to bellow out my orders. She's a mighty fine piece of ass when it's needed. Like right now when I'm pining over a woman I could never touch, and she loves my cock.

"Shut the door and lock it, please."

"Mr. Langley, sir, I don't believe this is a good time. You are due in court in an hour."

"That's plenty of time. I need a release. How this week has gone. I would suppose you needed one as well," I said, standing, releasing my belt and unzipping the slacks from my suit.

Jillian quickly slammed the door, locked it, and hastily approached me. I neatly folded my slacks so they wouldn't wrinkle and hung my suit jacket and shirt on the coat rack I had in my office. I looked over to see Jillian leaning over my desk, naked, with her ass in the air. This would end quick, but that's fine by me. It would have been nice to have a little foreplay, but as long as we both get off, I don't care right now. I plucked a condom from my wallet and sheathed my erection, pumping it a few times to ensure it was secure. I ambled over. Slapped her ass cheeks and fingered her hole to make sure she was wet enough to take me. Grabbed her hips and rammed myself hard into her tight, warm heat. She whimpered from the sudden intrusion and bit down on her arm to keep from crying out. Once her walls had molded around my cock, I bucked relentlessly inside her. I slapped her ass cheeks hard a few times as I pumped myself inside her. Reached under her, and pinched and twirled her clit between two fingers until she came hard around my shaft. My balls drew up, so I fucked her through her orgasm until I found my release.

"That's a good girl," I praised, and bent down to kiss her cheek. "You can clean up in my ensuite restroom before going back out. The files for my next court proceedings are under you. Can you pack them up for me, please, before leaving?" I said as I pulled my softening cock from her entrance and sat down at my desk chair naked as Jillian scampered off.

A hard fuck was just what I needed to get through the rest of this grueling day. I sighed with relief, for my head was no longer pounding. Something in my life required change. I scrimped, saved, and worked my ass off to get where I am today. A billionaire CEO, owner of a law firm that began with hardly any resources, but at this point, the possibilities were endless. That meant, however, I had scarcely any time for much else. So, at thirty years old, I'm still quite single and childless. Although three of my younger siblings have all tied the knot and have children of their own. Mom and dad continually reprimand me for not marrying myself and giving them more grandchildren. Though it would be nice to have a woman waiting at home for me every night, when I got home, there was no room for that. I've tried the dating scene, and females can't seem to hack my busy lifestyle. I have no problems getting dates when I need them, and I have a whole slew of women at my beck and call. Some of them will be in a relationship if it means they could have my money. Yeah, no, thank you. I would rather be alone than have something false where love was not present.