Summer Down South

by Lily Hayden

  “It’s fucking easy for you to say.” Aaron snapped back, making Shauna flinch at the venom in his words. “You’re not the one who’s on the line to lose everything.”

  “You’re jumping the gun.” Sylvie replied a little curtly. “I’ve told you all along what you should do, but do you listen to me? No. You’re too busy living the high life to worry about the future.”

  Speak! She urged herself. Say something before they see you and you look completely deranged!

  Shauna tried to open her mouth to speak, but she was frozen to the spot, unable to move.

  “That’s really fucking helpful.” Aaron shot back. “Fuck, the Marin Hotel guys are loitering by the elevator. I’ll have to go. I’ll call you later.”

  Shauna heard the soft click as the door shut and felt her body relax. God, that would have been so awkward. She had no idea what that was about and there was no way she’d be admitting to overhearing that conversation to Aaron or Sylvie. She pushed it to the back of her mind and finished cleaning up the boardroom at lightning speed. The office floor was starting to empty now, she noticed as she tossed some notes into Rebecca’s office. Most of the Senior Team had gone out with their clients and no doubt the rest of the office were taking advantage of an opportunity for an early finish. Shauna decided to use the opportunity to get a head start on some tasks Rebecca had delegated to her, and she sat down at her PC, soon becoming engrossed in her work.

  A gentle tap on the door roused her and, a glance at the clock told her she’d been working for over an hour without realising how quickly time was passing. She looked up at the broad, male silhouette as the door open, expecting to see Aaron back from the client dinner, but the face that greeted her was younger and infinitely more handsome.

  “Hi.” She smiled up at Armand, enjoying the light fluttery sensation in her stomach at his presence.

  “Hey.” He smiled at her, his elbow planted against the doorframe as he rested the door open with one arm. “You’re the last one here. I was just checking you were alright? I think Kevin wants to lock up.”

  Shauna felt a twinge of disappointment. She’d been hoping he had sought her out for another reason. Apart from exchanging pleasantries, she had barely seen him since her first day, but that hadn’t stopped her mind replaying their airplane scene multiple times when she was alone in the privacy of her bed.

  “Oh, right.” She hurriedly pressed the save icon and started to gather up her belongings, pushing papers into her notebook and stuffing it into the locker beneath her desk.

  “Don’t rush!” Armand exclaimed. “Sorry- I didn’t mean you have to leave now. It’s just everyone has finished earlier than usual, and I wanted to see if you were ok?”

  “Oh.” Shauna forced herself to slow down her panicked tidying, feeling a little foolish. “It’s fine. I was just finishing up anyway.”

  She logged off the PC and picked up her bag, feeling very conscious of Armand, still leaning against the doorframe watching her. He held the door open for her and she moved slowly towards the elevators, conscious of the heavy silence between them.

  “Everything going ok with the job?” Armand finally spoke, sounding a little hesitant and not his usual confident self.

  She pressed the button, summoning the elevator, and turned to look at him. He was dressed more formally than usual today, possibly on account of the clients in. He looked good in a suit, Shauna couldn’t help but notice. The tailored, grey jacket accentuated his broad shoulders and the pants clung to his muscular thighs. He loosened the tie at his neck and she followed his hands, hoping to catch a glimpse of the tattoos she knew were hidden beneath. Her eyes travelled up to his face and, watching her watching him, his mouth spread into a wolfish grin.

  Shauna felt her cheeks flame as she realised she’d been so busy checking him out that she hadn’t answered his question.

  “It’s good.” She said quickly, grateful when the elevator doors sprang open. “Really good.”

  He stepped into the elevator besides her and her heart quickened as she realised that they were alone together.

  God, she really wanted something to happen between them.

  The moment the doors slid shut though, he seemed oblivious to the tension.

  “That’s great to hear.” He nodded, glancing at his phone. “How did Rebecca get on with Marin?”

  “Yeah, really good.” She nodded, any excitement she had felt sinking like a stone as the doors opened at the ground floor and he hadn’t so much as glanced in her direction.

  “Ah, crap.” Armand said, still staring at his phone, his face twisted into a frown. “Sorry, Shauna. I need to go back up and grab something.”

  She nodded hollowly. Any chemistry between them was clearly dead and buried, if it hadn’t been all in her head in the first place. She couldn’t bear to look back at him, not wanting him to see the disappointment in her eyes. She muttered something that sounded close enough to a goodbye and made her way towards the exit.

  Every fucking time. Her inner voice ranted. You think there’s something there and then, boom! Back to the fucking friend-zone. Scratch that. “Friend” is a little optimistic. The casual-fucking-acquaintance-zone. Fucking story of my fucking life.

  Embarrassment, frustration and self-pity were coursing freely through her veins as she walked.

  I’ve done exactly what I always do: letting my imagination run away with me and building things up into something they weren’t, ending up feeling hurt and unwanted. Probably because of all those ridiculous romance books I devour. Maybe I should just go home and set the lot of them on fire.

  Shauna was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the feet rushing up behind her.

  “Shauna?”

  She spun around, surprised to see Armand behind her, his face twisted in confusion.

  “Huh?”

  “I asked if you’d wait for me? Maybe we could get dinner?” He sounded a little nervous as he said it and, despite Shauna’s rant to herself to stop building guys up, she couldn’t help thinking he looked deliciously endearing; his dark, sexy eyes that were so usually full of confidence now questioning and uncertain.

  “Oh, sorry.” She nodded her head, confused. “Of course.”

  He smiled then and any signs of vulnerability evaporated. He was back to his usual confident demeanour. She watched as he darted back to the elevator, returning less than five minutes later, by which time she was a knot of anxiety.

  He gestured to his car and Shauna was only mildly disappointed to see it was a standard saloon, nowhere near as fast and exciting as Aaron’s ride. He held the door open for her though, tossing the document envelope he was clutching onto the back seat, and between his chivalrous gesture and the proximity of him in the enclosed space, Shauna felt a shiver of anticipation that not even a Porsche could rival.

  They drove to a small restaurant and Armand kept up a steady stream of small talk until they had ordered their first drink. She had been hoping he would bring up their previous liaisons, but she was still taken aback when he suddenly reached across the table and took her menu from her hand. He placed it on the table between them and took her hand, gently wrapping his strong fingers around her delicate wrist. Her heart skipped a beat as she met his eyes across the table.

  “I’ve been meaning to speak to you,” He said, his tone serious but his eyes were playful. “To apologise for what happened between us.”

  “Apologise?” Shauna fought to keep her voice calm as her heart dropped into her abdomen with disappointment.

  “If I’d known that we would be working together…” He shrugged, still holding her hand. “I wouldn’t have over-stepped any…”

  “Oh!” Shauna felt her cheeks redden and she pulled her hand free, waving it in what she hoped was a dismissive manner. “Oh, totally. And you’ve got nothing to apologise for. I don’t usually, uh, do things like that, but…”

  “Of course.” Armand nodded his head in agreement. “Me too. I mean, I don’t m
ake that a habit. It’s just…”

  He trailed off and looked at Shauna expectantly.

  She swallowed nervously. It was on the tip of her tongue to wave away his apology, or whatever this was, but as reluctant as she was to ever make a “move”, she couldn’t keep letting moments pass her by.

  “It was fun.” She heard the words slip from her mouth, flirty and confident, sounding scarily like Ella or Taylor.

  Her heart almost stopped as she waited, anxiously, for his response, but his eyes lit up at her words.

  “Fun, huh?” He tilted his head and she watched, tantalised, as his lips parted, a flash of tongue behind his white, straight smile.

  God, had he done that on purpose? She wondered, feeling her legs weaken.

  “I wanted to ask you out.” He admitted, a flash of the self-consciousness back. “But I saw you go for dinner with Aaron a few times and I wondered…”

  “Oh!” Shauna shook her head. “No! Nothing like that. It was just work stuff.”

  Armand looked pleased with her answer. “I was worried you might have said something…”

  “To Aaron?” Shauna gasped horrified. “No. I haven’t said anything to anyone.”

  Armand seemed to physically relax, and in one easy motion, he had her hand back in his across the table. He was naturally charming, and Shauna found him as easy to flirt with as she had on the plane. When they had finished eating, Armand discreetly signalled for the bill and paid the waiter. As he drove towards her home, Shauna found herself desperate to extend their time together.

  “You want to come in?” She asked, suddenly emboldened by her desire, as he drew the car to a stop outside her place.

  Her housemates would be in, which made it all a bit weird, but she barely bothered with any of them. She didn’t want to lose this opportunity.

  He paused, and for a horror-filled second her body flooded with terror.

  Have I misread the situation? Oh, God, why have I tried to make the first move? Am I too keen?

  A slow, sexy smile spread across his face.

  “I would love to.”

  Relief flooded her followed by a delicious tingle of excitement, washing away the fear and Shauna led the way to the house. Thankfully, her housemates were either out or shut away in their own rooms and she rummaged through her shelf of the shared fridge for two beers.

  He leaned against the counter as he waited for her, and she hesitated, unsure whether to take him through to the communal lounge. She would feel more relaxed in the privacy of her bedroom, but she had no idea how to suggest it without looking too forward.

  Oh, God, why am I so fricking bad at this?

  Conscious of the heavy silence that had fallen between them, she handed him a beer. The longer she went without speaking, the more awkward she felt and the harder it was to think of something to say.

  “I’m just going to, uh…” She gestured dumbly in the direction of the bathroom.

  Feeling like a total idiot, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked alright, she decided. Her long hair was tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail; a few stray tendrils escaping and framing her angular face. She had dressed up today, for the client meeting, in a tailored dress that cinched her waist, exaggerating the curves of her hips and breasts. She ran a hand over her bare legs, grateful that she’d kept up the maintenance and they were still deliciously smooth. She was passable, she thought, but she wasn’t hot. There was no denying that Armand Landry was drop-dead gorgeous; stereotypically tall, dark and handsome. He could easily have some Instagram-model-type hottie: someone like Ella, with her perky boobs and legs for days or Taylor, who’s striking features turned heads. Shauna forced back the panic that was threatening to overwhelm her.

  Just go out there and stop making this weird. She told herself sternly. So, what if it’s just a hook up to him? You’re literally here for a few weeks. You can’t even keep an average guy interested. This is probably for the best. No feelings. Just enjoy it!

  She took a deep breath and walked back into the kitchen. Armand looked up, meeting her eyes across the room. As if he could sense her nerves, he placed his beer down gently on the counter and crossed the room towards her. Her breath caught in her throat as he caught her up in his tanned, muscular arms. The heady, masculine scent of him awakened something deep and primal within her and she reached out instinctively; one palm sliding up from the hard, taut muscles of his abs to the solidness of his chest and the other snaking around his neck, pulling his head down to meet her with a ferocity that surprised her. His tongue delved between her lips, probing gently at first before their kiss grew more passionate. Her hands explored the planes of his body, desperate to feel the scorching heat of him beneath his suit. He traced the curves of her body and she felt herself pressing hard against him in response.

  Somehow, in their frantic need to explore one another, they stumbled into Shauna’s bedroom and somehow, Shauna was against the wall, her dress pushed up over her hips. Armand sank to his knees, pulling away her lacy panties. She knew she was already wet with anticipation and he gasped, his pupils dilating with pleasure , as his fingers discovered her excitement. She gasped, throwing her head back, as he penetrated her skilfully, before drawing his mouth down to her hot mound, running a tongue over her swollen clitoris. He withdrew his fingers and his hands circled the rounded flesh of her ass. His tongue and teeth grazed across her thighs, driving her wild with desire. Her legs were shaking as she pushed his head away, suddenly wanting to take control before she completely lost it. She pulled him roughly back to his feet and, with one shaking hand upon his chest, she pushed him back onto the bed. Whatever she was to him, there was no denying the genuine yearning in his eyes as she stood before him and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the ground. She slowly removed her bra, dropping the last scrap of fabric to the ground, and stood before him, feeling deliciously exposed to his admiring, hungry eyes. She turned, wantonly, suddenly not caring about her body hang-ups. She wanted to be naked for him. He fumbled with the buttons of his shirt and she knelt before him, gently removing his fingers and taking control. She realised, despite their previous intimacy, she had never seen him fully naked and the thought excited her. His body was a beautiful canvas of artwork and she traced the intricate web of tattoos, first with her fingers and then again with her lips. He brought his mouth to her nipples and she looked down, excited by the contrast of his dark head against her pale skin. She could make out his hardness beneath his suit pants and she worked her way down his torso, savouring the clean, masculine taste of his skin on her lips. He raised his hips, letting her discover the smooth erection beneath and she ran her fingers lightly over the shaft, tantalised as he responded to her touch. She bent her head and took him in her mouth, kissing and teasing him until she felt his hands bury themselves in the tangle of her red hair. She slid her lips further over his length, until he was completely filling her mouth and she looked up, loving the expression of pure bliss on his face as she worked him with her tongue and her lips. He wound his hands tighter into her hair and she couldn’t hold back a groan of delight. Her vocal pleasure sent waves of desire coursing through every nerve in his body and, when he could no longer hold back his hunger, he pulled her on top of him, collapsing onto his back. Her long legs parted for him and he held her tightly against his chest, as he found her hot wetness. She was so aroused that he entered her with ease and she felt a piercing pleasure shoot through her as he filled her completely. Her nipples ached as her large breasts grazed against his chest and she ground herself against him, suddenly unable to hold herself back. They moved in complete synchronisation and Shauna felt herself grow hazy as her orgasm pushed closer. She bit down on his tattooed shoulder as they began to move faster, and Armand cried out, cursing with unbridled desire. He circled one arm around her body and, without warning, rose with ease to a seated position and then to his feet; Shauna wrapping her legs around his waist for balance. The movement allowed him to slip deeper within her and th
is time, it was she who cursed as a wave of pure ecstasy ripped through her body. Her wildness unleashed something within him and suddenly, her back was to the wall and he was fucking her hard and fast. She couldn’t hold back any longer. Their mutual abandon brought each other’s walls crashing down and she gave in to the powerful orgasm, feeling herself buck against him. He muttered something guttural and raw, but her senses were temporarily suspended as all her focus flew to the orgasm that was tearing through her body. She felt his legs buckle before he caught her, steadying them both against the wall and, as the hazy cloud lifted, she felt the wetness of his orgasm as she slid from him. She waited for him to pull away, but, in the semi-light of her room, he searched for her lips, kissing her deeply again, holding her tightly against him.

  Faking It

  “Ella!”

  Ella paused, her fingers hovering over the keyboard of her laptop, as she turned to face Jessica. She had been staring purposefully at the screen, pretending not to notice as the Marketing clique busied themselves to leave the office for lunch together. She might have been faking not noticing, but her disinterest in their little girl gang was one-hundred-percent genuine. She had bigger things on her mind and she had been looking forward to an uninterrupted hour, so she could get her head down and finish up the report she was finalising for Jessica. Their constant chatter was aggravating her tension headache.

  “Yes?” She pasted on a polite smile as she turned in her chair to look up at her boss.

  Jessica flicked her bouncy curls over one shoulder and Ella could see her gaggle of followers watching from the doorway.

  “Come for lunch with us?” Jessica called in an upbeat, friendly tone.

  Ella tried to hide any surprise she felt. She glanced back at her screen, buying herself a moment to answer. The truth was the presentation could wait. She was almost done anyway. She had wanted to take some time to herself to try to figure out what to do about the monumental fuck-up she had made when she’d hooked up with Jason Stephens Friday night.