Daisy
at the office, Daisy longed for days of the pool, ice-cold cocktails, and sunshine caressing her skin. She loved her job, but part of her remained at the Ridge, stuck in the soft duvet covers and the tall walls of her suite.
Although back in the heart of Beverly Hills, the July heat persisted. It seeped through the windows and walls, stroking a thin layer of sweat between Daisy’s skin and her pantyhose.
Exhaustion tap danced in Daisy’s chest as she walked down the hallway from her office. She had half a dozen copies to make, a handful of emails to answer, and the unshakable boredom pushing her head under. Everything screamed for her attention, but Daisy needed a will to live.
Coffee made life better.
When she reached the break room, she pulled her hair from its loose bun, hoping for a private audience with the espresso machine. One foot barely crossed the threshold before she paused, caught off-guard by the sight of Jensen.
The crisp charcoal of his favorite suit blended him into the break room's stainless-steel fridge. Daisy almost missed him at first, but he stood taller instead of casually leaning against the fridge when spotting her.
“Hey,” Jensen greeted. Since their return from the Ridge, they hadn’t spoken one-on-one at all. Even in group settings, their conversations revolved solely around work matters. No one paid any mind to them avoiding one another. “I’ll get out of your way.”
“It’s fine. I’m here for some coffee,” Daisy assured him before he could run out of the room. Their eyes locked as Daisy crossed the spacious break room for the espresso machine.
While there had been a lack of conversation, the silent glances across the hallway during working hours spoke volumes. What was there to say?
“I’m hiding from Delaney,” Jensen mumbled, hands jammed into his pockets. His eyes followed Daisy, even as she rifled through the cabinets beside him for a mug. “She’s been calling my office line all morning.”
“Did you block her cell phone?”
"I blocked her number, email, all social media, and any of her friends or family she might use to reach me. She’s been insistent on talking more. I’m not sure what she wants now.”
"I wonder what’s going on with her and Easton because I saw the two of them sucking faces the other night at one of my favorite restaurants.”
“Great.”
Daisy sighed, fiddling with the settings on the espresso machine. She needed the strongest available option to drown in. “I swear they’ve started a campaign to ruin all of my spots. Now, where will I get authentic Italian on this side of Los Angeles County?"
The hissing of the espresso machine grated against her festering bitterness, recalling another thing stolen from her by the exes. Daisy leaned against the counter, catching sight of Jensen’s eyes dropped toward the floor, crestfallen.
Daisy couldn’t blame him; no one liked hearing that someone they once loved moved on with their affair partner.
In the long run, she got off easier. She and Easton were never meant to be forever; he always wanted her a little more than she wanted him. Leaving him came easy with one foot already out of the door. Sometimes, not being the dating type worked in her favor.
Daisy reached for Jensen, stopping herself at the twitch of her fingers. Instead, she scooted down the counter, closing the gap between them. She shook her head as she said, "Jensen."
Jensen’s head lifted, face unreadable. He shrugged. “Every time I think I’ve gotten past it, she finds a new way to disrupt my peace.”
“There’s not much you can do about that,” Daisy murmured. “Does it bother you because you’re still in love with her?”
“No. The cheating killed any feelings I might’ve had. Whenever I see her, I don’t see the girl I went to prom with or the one who cheered from the audience as I accepted my diploma. I see her and Easton on that roof.”
"It's anger. You're angry with Delaney, rightfully so. I was, too, but I realized that wasting my energy on them wouldn’t make it worthwhile. Doing better without Easton in my life would.”
Daisy watched Jensen's eyes flash curiously, but the slow roll of his gaze over her kept her still. Giving her dark, fitted work dress and her kitten heel pumps a once-over spelled trouble for them if anyone walked in.
“And how are you doing that?” Jensen asked.
"Throwing myself into my work and under someone else is a great starting point. You should consider it," said Daisy.
“Maybe I should.” Jensen’s rasp sent several flashbacks of rumpled sheets and the thump of the headboard against the wall racing through Daisy’s head. She reached back for her coffee mug. In her distraction, she nearly burned her palm when missing the handle. “Any suggestions on where to start?”
Minding her manners enough not to suggest a secluded closet to blow off steam, Daisy hummed, "Well, we're supposed to get news on the contractor bids today.”
“Right.” Jensen cleared his throat. “Isn’t legal finishing up the contracts soon?” His eyes jumped to the furthest point from hers while Daisy searched for something interesting in her coffee.
“Yeah, your dad wanted to make the announcement before lunchtime. It isn’t his job, but he’s eager to be involved. . . with December four months from now.”
The mention of December struck hard and fast, needling beneath Daisy’s skin. On the retreat, it was easier to dodge the subject and not let it linger, especially while she and Jensen explored their boundaries. But now, being back at work, neither could ignore the glaring reminders that they were at odds.
“I can’t blame him. He loves this company.”
Daisy carried her coffee toward the door, but Jensen followed behind her. He gestured for her to go first, letting Daisy slide back into the hallway. He matched her careful strides in two large ones of his own, slowing his pace down to match hers.
"I know he does. Which is why he's going to green-light the deal for Steelbird Structures to be our newest contractor,” Daisy remarked.
"I don't know. My dad seemed more impressed with the presentation of Urbanite Developments’ proposal,” Jensen said, brows knit together in confusion.
“What makes you say that?”
“I know my dad, and I’ve heard from some of our investors about their personal preference for Urbanite.”
"So, you think your dad will bend the knee for some of our investors? Be realistic, Jensen. The benefit of the company comes first. As charismatic as Urbanite’s people are, the numbers don’t lie. Steelbird wins in almost every scenario.”
Daisy paused outside of her office, finding Jensen’s mouth taut and his eyes narrowed into slits. Ah, she managed to push him back into competition mode. . . right where she liked him.
"Uh-huh. How sure are you exactly?” Jensen questioned. The disbelief dripping off his words told Daisy how little he'd believe a word out of her mouth. He might consider himself the Harrison Ramsey "expert", but she knew the numbers by heart.
“Absolutely certain.” Daisy backed into her office, smirking before the door swung closed. “It’s okay to be wrong, Jensen. You are a lot, but I’m used to it by now.”
Jensen’s face flashed a heated shade of pink. He spun around on his heel, ducking into his office, so unlike his usual penchant for a snarky comment in response. Maybe he was learning not to challenge her.
Daisy snickered, knowing he heard every word. She slid behind her cramped desk, burdened by small towers of reports and different schematics from their architects sprawled across the space.
Crashing to sit in her not-yet-replaced desk chair, Daisy planned for a morning of corporate triage. Urgent things would be handled before lunch, and everything else would be completed before the workday ended. However, with her schedule packed, the search for a new chair fell to the bottom of that list.
She had barely cleared the reports and schematics off her when her office phone rang. The shrill beeping demanded her full attention, not giving her a second to enjoy her coffee.
Daisy accepted the call, cradling the phone against her shoulder while she thumbed through the schematics. “Daisy Riggs speaking. May I ask who’s calling?”
"I wasn't done with our conversation yet, Your Highness." Jensen's voice on the other line caught Daisy's focus. She moved her laptop to the side, revealing Jensen at his desk with a smirk. He waved the phone at her. "You're not usually one to run from a good debate."
“First of all, I didn’t run, you did. Second of all, there’s no debate. I’m right about this. Now, I suspect you have a kink for me humiliating you,” Daisy said, keeping her tone dry.
"Hilarious." Jensen rolled his eyes, feet kicked up on his desk like such a douchebag. Only Jensen Ramsey could get away with the carefree bullshit act. "But if you're sure, how about we run a little wager? You versus me, like old times."
Daisy sat tall in her chair, rigid from the horrible back support. She grabbed the waistline of her work dress and straightened it, watching Jensen's face. The neckline of her dress dipped, revealing more cleavage. Jensen’s gaze trailed after it. Predictable.
She laughed into the phone, making it extra sultry for Jensen. “I love a good wager. State your terms and prepare to be crushed.”
Jensen’s Adam’s apple bobbed hard enough for Daisy to see. He slid his feet from his desk. Instead, his hand gripped it tight like he needed to hold himself from pouncing on her.
So close, yet so far.
“You and I guess who wins the contract. Simple as that,” Jensen said.
“Sounds like a plan. When I win, you'll be my personal assistant for the day."
“Oh? When I win, you'll do all my reports for the rest of the week."
“I can’t wait to wipe the floor with you.” Daisy grinned. Jensen matched her with confidence palpable through several layers of glass. "My money's on Steelbird, and I’m guessing the contract will be around 3.5 million for the award."
“That high? I sure hope you’re right or be prepared to be my ghostwriter for the rest of the week," said Jensen.
"Oh, please. It's Wednesday, and we never work too long on the weekends. Now stop stalling and announce your bet, pretty boy." Daisy slid her laptop back in front of her, refreshing her inbox.
“Fine. I say it’s going to Urbanite and—” Jensen paused mid-sentence, messing with his laptop. His eyes widened, breathing a little harder. “Did this email just hit our inboxes?”
“It sure did. Open it.” Sitting at the top of her unread email pile, Harrison’s announcement email arrived with divine timing.
She heard Jensen's mouse click. She did the same, opening the email to skim through the brief pleasantries. Harrison always included them, too nice for his own good sometimes.
Jensen’s voice started out strong, fading by the end, "‘I am proud to announce Hidden Oasis' newest partnership with Steelbird Structures. They will provide contracting and construction for the Alpine Project in Vermont, headed by our Project Development department, for an estimated cost of $3.65 million.’"
Victory tasted so sweet.
“Told you so,” Daisy broke the silence following, not fighting her smile anymore. She raked her eyes over Jensen’s newly pale face. He was so fucked.
“That’s not funny. How the hell did you almost get the number right? The company was a fifty-fifty shot!”
"It's my job to know. But it's time to saddle up for the rest of the day, my new assistant. I need you for an extended lunch hour, so push back any meetings until after two today. Thank you."
Daisy winked, hanging up the phone with her orders laid out. Man, it felt good to be a winner.
"I'm torn. Should I go with the white or the nude?" Daisy held two perfectly dazzling heels—white slingbacks with a kitten heel and nude-toned ankle strap heel.
She spun around and lifted each heel for the opinion of her captive audience. Jensen stood behind her and, from the expression on his face, looked anything but thrilled to be there. Buried underneath at least ten shopping bags, she barely saw his narrowed eyes from behind the designer brand haul.
His lunch hour as her personal assistant started with him buying her lunch. Then, she enlisted his services of bag carrying and funding an afternoon on Rodeo Drive. She conveniently “forgot” her wallet in the car.
Daisy raised her brow, waving the heels in front of Jensen for a response. He huffed, blowing a loose hair out of his eyes. “Whichever hurts my credit card more. That’s your goal, right?”
“These are about equal price, so that doesn’t help.” Daisy clicked her tongue, maneuvering around him to the bench. She propped her right foot onto the bench, sliding off her work heels. “Guess I should try them on.”
She heard Jensen's defeated sigh but no further protests. First, she slid on the nude heel, underwhelmed by its fit. So, she slipped on the white in its place. As luck would have it, the shoe fit like a glove.
She grabbed the box for the white slingbacks, marching toward the counter without waiting for Jensen to follow. She was a busy woman with things to do.
“Hi there!” The elegant woman behind the counter beamed at Daisy’s approach. Her face gleamed brighter than the shiny pearl earrings she wore, framed nicely against her dark blouse and warm blonde hair. “Did you find everything you wanted today?”
“Absolutely. Thank you.” Daisy slid the shoe box across the counter. She glanced over her shoulder at the rustling of shopping bags, finding Jensen. Her Rodeo haul hung on both of his arms instead of piled up into an unwieldy tower of clothes, shoes, jewelry, and a cute new purse.
“If this is everything? Cash or card?”
"Card, please."
Daisy hadn’t stopped looking at Jensen and outstretched her hand wordlessly. Jensen dug into his pocket, revealing his shimmery black credit card.
He handed it to her, not looking at the price. After the second store, Jensen learned better, but Daisy wouldn't tell him she applied sales discounts to everything.
She liked making him sweat a little—it was character-building.
Daisy turned to pay for her brand-new slingbacks, noticing the impressed face of the store clerk. The clerk’s eyes darted between Daisy and Jensen, too busy gawking to finish bagging Daisy’s shoes.
Daisy swiped Jensen’s card and gracefully plucked the shoebox off the counter. “I’ll be alright without a bag. Thank you.”
“Of course, ma’am. Have an excellent day, and thank you for shopping with us!” The clerk nodded.
Daisy tipped her head graciously before heading out the double doors. She inhaled the July sunshine, head rolling back to bask in the warm day. Her arms stretched out and brushed against Jensen, materializing by her side again.
"This was fun! I'm done shopping but need one more stop before we return to the office," Daisy said.
“Lead the way,” Jensen sighed, despite sounding ready to ask what else she had up her sleeve. “We’re in the Brighton parking garage.”
"I remember." Daisy and Jensen strode across the sidewalk through Rodeo, moving through the sparse crowds for the afternoon hour. They caught a crosswalk right outside the parking structure at the perfect time.
Daisy waited for Jensen to fetch his car, enjoying every moment of his suffering. In the grand scheme of things, her demands were harmless and funny.
“Hey there, gorgeous.” To her left, a gaggle of guys no older than their early twenties whistled, swaggering toward the valet. Several lowered their glasses to ogle her openly. One even licked his lips.
“Keep walking. Not interested,” Daisy barked. At the first hint of aggression, the guys scurried away. Good riddance.
Jensen’s car rolled up to her with all her bags in the backseat and him leaning over from the driver’s side. He flipped down his sunglasses, brows arched. “Where are we going?”
“Obelisk Hotel. It’s right before the intersection on Beverly Boulevard and La Cienega.” Daisy tossed her shoes into the pile of shopping bags in the backseat before sliding into the passenger seat.
“I know where it is. That’s one of ours, right?” Jensen cocked his head. He pulled away from the curb and sped out of the parking garage. Wind wildly threaded through Daisy’s hair, blowing her sandy tresses around her face. “Is there a reason we need to stop by?”
In the passenger seat, Daisy slumped a little into the upholstery. She quietly picked at her newly manicured nails, painted in classic French tips.
It wasn’t any of Jensen’s business. Yet, Daisy swore a thin thread of concern danced in his question.
She sighed. “My apartment had a burst pipe in one of the upstairs rooms, but it caused water damage to my place. They’re repairing it now, but I needed a place to stay.”
Daisy caught the subtle twitch of his jaw, and his lips parted to speak. However, Jensen said nothing in the middle of turning onto Beverly Boulevard.
He cleared his throat once he completed the turn, zipping down the left-hand lane. "Let's see if the company can reimburse your stay."
"Jensen, it's fine. I can afford the room for a day or two since the pipes should be fixed by then. I needed extra clothes since the pipe burst at three in the morning, and I didn't grab any before being ushered out of my apartment.”
“So that's why you took my credit card and me hostage.”
“That, and they were having some killer sales today. Don’t sweat the bill too hard, Mr. Moneybags.”
Jensen chuckled beside her. He maneuvered them through the streets until the intersection approached. Off to their left, Obelisk towered over the nearby buildings. Its name suited the hotel due to the obsidian-tinted glass lining the side of the building, catching the light to shine.
The two entered the parking lot, picking a guest spot close to the entrance. Jensen and Daisy turned simultaneously and froze, both leaning toward the backseat.
"I'll get the bags. That's still my job," Jensen remarked while he cut the ignition. Before Daisy could protest, he scooped up the bags into his arms. Jensen stacked many smaller ones into the larger bags, cutting down the sheer volume of things to carry.
“I won’t tell you no.” Daisy climbed from his gorgeous convertible, slinking around the back with Jensen falling into step with her. The jostling of the shopping bags stacked on Jensen's arms announced their presence, encouraging people to clear their path.
The two skirted past the front desk of the opulent lobby—decked out with looming pillars and golden chandeliers strung overhead—for the elevators. For an accommodation made on such short notice, the Obelisk Hotel promised its guests luxury. Daisy participated in many of its renovations last year.
Daisy caught an empty elevator before the doors shut, dragging Jensen inside before anyone else could join them. As the doors rolled closed for the fifteenth floor, she turned to Jensen.
After the lunch hour, his hair sported that perfectly wind-tousled messiness that would drive a girl crazy. He lost the tie at the office, leaving his shirt with the top two buttons undone for a peek of his toned chest.
“You’re kind of good at this personal assistant gig," Daisy complimented, catching Jensen's eye. The two had chosen to stand beside one another instead of their usual lean against opposite walls. "I almost want to reward you.”
“Oh yeah? How exactly would you do that?” The rasp from earlier returned, turning Jensen’s voice heavy with innuendo. The elevator walls felt much closer than Daisy remembered.
“That depends. Are you interested?” Daisy questioned, playing coy. She reached out, brushing her finger down the lapel of his suit, right along the edge of touching his exposed chest.
Jensen's eyes focused on her finger until she stopped alongside the fastened button. Then, his eyes wandered back up and settled on her lips. Looked like she got her answer.
Jensen’s arms opened wider, and Daisy yanked him into a kiss. Her hands cupped the sides of his face while their mouths moved in perfect sync.
After a week of avoidance and small talk, their bodies decided to speak instead.
The elevator chimed before the doors opened, but Daisy and Jensen continued to kiss while stumbling out of the carriage. Daisy reached into one of the bags—her purse—and a small white card.
Her hotel room key.
“Come on.” Daisy dragged Jensen down the hall. He followed without hesitation as they raced to the end of the hallway, and she let them into her room, moving frantically.
The two abandoned the shopping bags and all decorum at the door when it clicked shut. Jensen’s mouth crashed back to Daisy’s, ravenously tugging her lower lip between his teeth. Oh fuck.
Daisy threaded her hands into his hair, pulling him further into her room. She opted for a solo room with a king-sized bed, but it worked for her. The two maneuvered through the cozy room to the foot of the bed.
Between kisses, frenzied hands tugged at clothes. Layers were shed quickly, flung to the side with little remorse from either party. The slight chill from the running air conditioner spread goosebumps over Daisy's skin, exposed with every layer of clothing Jensen eased off her body.
Despite his rush, he never went too hard or rough. His touch treated her with utter worship, but his mouth promised a world of debauchery awaiting her.
"Still bossing me around, or can I make a request?" Jensen asked. His mouth skimmed the column of her neck, pressing hot breath against her as he sucked a mark right above her pulse.
"I'm open to suggestions." Daisy's hands fumbled with Jensen's belt blindly, hearing the clatter after a few tries. Her fingers moved into the button and zipper close to the end. The last piece of clothing between them kept her busy, flustered with each fumble.
“I’d been thinking about our time at the Ridge,” Jensen panted while his roving hands slid over her naked breasts, but he didn’t stop there. He grabbed at her hips and slid his thumbs down the hipbone. “I think about it while I work, when I’m at home, and when I try to sleep. . . I dream about how I never got you to sit on my face.”
His words sent a flare of heat like a supernova between Daisy’s thighs. Jensen’s knees knocked against the edge of the mattress, sending him crashing into the plush duvet with a nudge from Daisy.
Jensen scooted further onto the bed when Daisy joined him. She inched closer, crawling to him on her hands and knees, her hair curling around her face. Her hand slid up his thigh, raking her nails lightly to Jensen's heavier breaths.
“You should get comfortable, then. I’m about to make your dreams come true,” Daisy whispered. Jensen slumped back into the duvet and pillows, letting her take over.
She straddled above his face, hovering with her thighs on either side of Jensen's head, one hand preemptively reaching for the headboard.
"Why the fuck are you hovering?" Jensen's arms snaked underneath her thighs. The next thing Daisy knew, he yanked her down to fully sit on his face. The flat of his tongue pressed hot and firm against her clit.
Daisy yelped, startled. She gripped the headboard with both hands when his hands grabbed her ass. His fingers squeezed hard and spread her open nice and wide, running his tongue along her pussy.
Jensen’s eyes, which were the only part of his face visible, blinked slowly as a haze settled over them. His hands tightened their grip on her ass and moved her to ride his tongue.
Daisy moaned. Her hold on the headboard tightened while she rocked her hips to Jensen’s rhythm. Hot spit swirled in with the dampness of her arousal, teased by Jensen sliding his tongue into her entrance.
As she rode Jensen’s face, every flick of his tongue against her clit or the wrap of his mouth around her pussy elicited an incoherent plea from her lips. She begged him for pleasure. Each response was met by the sloppy sounds made by Jensen eating her out or his muffled praise whispered against her skin.
Still, Jensen's eyes stayed open despite the haze swirling around his irises. His pupils dilated so much that his blue eyes darkened to navy. His gaze locked onto Daisy, who couldn’t hold her composure.
She panted and squirmed, wiggling her hips whenever his tongue slid just right against her clit. He lapped at her like a man deprived of water, and she became his oasis in the desert.
Spit and her slick smeared against her inner thighs from the messiness of Jensen’s mouth. His eagerness turned the arousal gathering in her lower abdomen into an unignorable tension, drawing tighter with every caress of his tongue.
“Please don’t stop—” Daisy’s voice cracked, teeming with pleasure. Beneath her, Jensen winked and shook his head, tearing another moan off her lips. “Jensen!”
A hand dropped from the headboard so Daisy could rake her fingers through his hair. Grabbing a fistful, she angled Jensen’s head and ground her hips down onto his tongue, lost in the pleasure of his mouth.
Daisy’s fingers went from a grab to a light scraping against his scalp, watching Jensen’s eyes flutter closed. He moaned, the sound muffled between her thighs, dropping one of his hands from her ass.
Daisy paused. Part of her braced for the palm of his hand to smack against her ass, shooting a small jolt of pleasure straight to her throbbing and sensitive clit. But Jensen’s quiet moaning grew louder, followed by more sloppy sounds.
She glanced over her shoulder, finding Jensen’s rogue hand wrapped around his cock. His length glistened with a pretty red flush, leaking tiny beads of pre-cum from neglect.
Jensen’s hand rapidly bobbed up and down his cock, timed to the muffled moans cried into Daisy’s pussy. His thighs shook as he jerked himself off and ate Daisy out at the same time.
Despite the tightness in her stomach growing heavier with every passing second, Daisy let go of the headboard. She leaned back a little and wrapped her free hand around Jensen’s, matching the pace of his strokes.
She continued to grind her hips against his face, chasing the pleasure found on Jensen’s tongue. Jensen’s hand sped up its pace, but even in a race, it wouldn’t beat his tongue to the climax.
Daisy screamed his name as a final stroke against her clit brought her orgasm crashing around her. She paused, feeling Jensen do the same. Her body quivered with finality and exhaustion, stalling out while Jensen cleaned her up with gentle strokes of his tongue.
His hands eased her off his face, but Daisy couldn’t protest as he rolled them over. She lay on the bed with Jensen kneeling between her legs, looming over her.
Jensen’s hand wrapped around his cock, slick and smeared with pre-cum, and gave himself a few quick strokes. He came with a groan of Daisy’s name as a thick trail of cum splattered onto Daisy’s stomach, breasts, and hips. Daisy took it all, laying on the rumpled sheets and panting.
"I know we said we’d play it by ear, but I missed the perks of this little arrangement,” Jensen mumbled, also short of breath. He swallowed hard when his eyes sought hers.
"Me too. I think we should resume it, same rules and everything." Daisy dragged one of her fingers through Jensen's cum, bringing it to her lips. She licked the digit clean with a curl of her tongue and smiled, seeing his wide-eyed nod. "Give me ten for a shower, and we'll return to the office?"
Jensen slumped beside her on the bed. “Make it fifteen. I need to borrow some of the hot water.”
“Deal. Also, you’re off the hook for the personal assistant thing for the rest of the day. I’m feeling generous.” Daisy laughed, stretching out across the sheets. She needed a good fuck and some clothes more than help with spreadsheets and emails.