by Smoke, Lucy
"It's a saying," I blurted. When everyone turned to look at me, a blush rose into my cheeks. Well, I thought, in for a penny, in for a pound and all that right? "The motto," I continued, "is a saying. It's the Post's new slogan and a lot of people who first saw it suggested that it was underhanded."
"Do you think it is?" Mrs. Hartley interrupted, tilting her head to the side.
I shook my head. "I can see how people would think that, but the job of the media – the true job – is to illuminate the truth."
"A lot of people don't like the press," someone else said. I turned and found the girl in the pencil skirt and polka dot blouse staring at me blandly. "A slogan is a slogan; it's supposed to garner attention and be an advertisement in itself," she argued.
I nodded. "Yes, but a good slogan also really relays what the organization is trying to convey. What the meaning is behind what they do. This new slogan showcases the dangers of secrets in the government."
"You're correct, Miss...?" Mrs. Hartley stepped forward, keeping her focus on me.
"Jamie," I said quickly. "Jamie Houston."
She nodded. "You're correct, Miss Houston. That's exactly what the motto means. If you'll recall – history was made here." She spread her arms out. "Maybe not in this building, it is new after all, but in this legacy. The Post has been here for decades and hopefully, it will be here for decades longer."
"I've heard that newspapers are going away," someone called out.
I turned my head, but this time no one stepped forward to accompany that claim. It had been a male voice, that was all I knew from the tone.
Mrs. Hartley didn't appear to mind. "That is a common misconception."
"So, you think it's a misconception," polka dot blouse girl said, folding her arms across her chest. She pursed her lips and raised a brow my way. I wondered why so many people were here if they didn't particularly believe in the journalism system. I wondered, briefly, if normal students just saw this place as something good to put on a resume.
"It is," Mrs. Hartley pressed on. "The newspaper business isn't dying out, it's changing. Just like you have all changed, so too must industries. If you were college students standing before me twenty or thirty years ago, you would have had different ideals, different clothes, different values of importance. Everything must change, that is simply the way of the world. The Post is no different. Hence, the new building, the new slogan, the new title – we're no longer just a newspaper, ladies and gentlemen, we're so much more."
I bit my lip to hide my smile. The more Mrs. Hartley talked, the more I felt right about where I was. Even if I didn't get the internship, I was incredibly happy that I had come to Washington DC, and I especially couldn't wait to get back to the hotel and see even more of this historic place with my guys. As the group turned to move back to the conference room where we had planned to meet back up, polka dot blouse stepped in front of me and elbowed me hard. I grunted and rubbed my stomach. She turned around and smiled, syrupy sweet.
"Oh, sorry, didn't see you there," she said.
I narrowed my gaze. "No problem," I replied.
Chapter 7
I practically leaped down the steps of the Washington Post's headquarters building and sprinted into Dex's arms. He laughed, grabbing me up and swinging me around before placing a rather heated kiss against my lips. My knees buckled, and I quickly reached up to clutch the lapels of his light jacket to keep our lips together.
Dex groaned as he pulled away, his dark eyes wide with interest and amusement. "I take it the tour went well?"
I nodded excitedly. "Other than some bitch with an attitude problem, it was great," I said.
"I'm glad to hear it. You ready to head back to the hotel?"
I groaned. "Am I ever." I pushed him towards the rows of taxis. "These heels are freaking killing me."
Dex laughed and opened a taxi door for me to get inside. He slid in after me. "Darren's meeting us back at the hotel," he said. "You were in there for a few hours. He's probably done and on his way back by now."
I nodded enthusiastically. Now that the tour was over, we finally had some time to ourselves. At least until The Post called to let me know whether or not I had gotten one of the internship spots or not. I couldn't think about it too much, though, or else my nerves would come back.
When we got to the hotel, I tapped my foot in front of the waiting elevator. The sooner I could get inside the suite, the sooner my heels could come off. My eyes trailed down Dex's back and ass. Maybe I could keep the heels on a little longer... I thought. When the elevator arrived, no one was in it and no one was waiting with us. The doors slid closed and Dex reached for the button to our floor.
"Dex..." I said quietly, reaching for a button on his shirt.
"Hmmm?" He looked down at my hand curiously.
"I'm really happy," I said.
He smiled and leaned down to peck my cheek. "I'm glad, Baby."
I frowned and trailed my hand lower. His eyes widened and heated. "I'm so happy," I repeated, "I just want to share my happiness."
"Oh, you do, do you?" He reached forward and pressed the stop button on the elevator. I giggled and nodded.
Dex's hand threaded into my hair, pulling my head back. My thighs squeezed together before loosening as his free hand crept up the front of my dress. His fingers dipped beneath the band of my underwear and I gasped as he slid through my slickness. "Oh Baby," he said with a wicked grin. "You're really happy."
"I am." I gasped as he shoved a finger in and then, just as quickly, pulled it out. He brought his hand to his mouth and sucked that finger between his lips. God, that was so hot...
"You want to make me happy?" he asked.
"Yes." I panted, my knees weak. "I do. I really do."
"Then get on your knees, Baby," he said, pushing me down.
I did as he bid me, my hands reaching out for the zipper of his jeans. Dex pulled my hair and my gaze shot to his. "Did I say you could open my pants?" he demanded, his voice harsh.
I shook. "No, sir."
"You wait for me," he said. "Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir." My panties were soaked.
He held my head back, staring down at me so that he was sure I understood. In this place of our relationship, he was in charge. Oh, in the street, he was my boyfriend just like any of the others. He'd hold my hand. He wouldn't dictate what I could or couldn't eat or wear. But during sex, Dex was my master. "Now you may unzip me," he said.
I reached for him again, my fingers fumbling for a brief moment before I managed to snag his zipper and pull it down. My mouth watered when I reached in and pulled out his quickly hardening cock. With one hand, Dex held my head. With the other, he held the base of his shaft and directed it to my lips. I opened my mouth willingly.
My lips wrapped around his length with familiarity. I laved my tongue against the underside and traced the veins before pulling back and kissing the head. Glancing up, Dex's eyes watched my every move. I flicked my tongue against the slit at the head of his shaft and he groaned, eyes blazing blue fire. He let his hand fall away from his cock as I replaced it with both of mine.
Sucking on the head of his shaft, I pumped him with my fingers. Dex moaned as I relished the taste of him on my tongue. Musky. Delicious. All man. My man. Dex's fingers sank into my hair and directed my movements. At one point, Dex pushed me down. I glanced up at him and his hot eyes stared back as he continued to urge me to take him deeper. I did, gagging a little as I sucked his length.
I breathed through my nose as the base of his cock came closer and closer to my face. Finally, I could feel him all the way in my throat. Dex's deep groan reverberated through his body and into my mouth. I swallowed around the cock in my mouth and throat, causing him to groan even louder.
"Fuck...Baby..." He panted. "You have no fucking idea how hot you look right now with your beautiful mouth stretched around my dick."
I swallowed again, breathing deeply through my nose and loving the way his nostrils fl
ared, and his shoulders bulged with tension as though it took every scrap of energy inside of him not to lose it. I slowly lowered one of my hands and took his balls between my fingers, rubbing gently between and around them. I fondled them for several seconds as he pulled out of my throat and pushed back in. Dex pulled all the way out on the next retreating thrust and let me breathe normally for a bit. I panted and reached for his dick again, wanting it back in my mouth.
"I'm gonna come in your mouth, Baby," he warned. "If you don't want to swallow, you better tell me. If you don't, I'm gonna hold you until you swallow every last fucking drop. Do you understand?"
I nodded. I wanted it. I wanted his cum in my stomach. I wanted him to lose control in my mouth. I wanted to see my strong, handsome, incredibly dominant and structured Dexter Smythe-Jones lose his fucking mind.
At my acquiesce, Dex groaned and began pumping into my mouth, his hands in my hair holding me harder and faster. Sometimes, he would pull all the way out and let me gasp right before shoving back in towards my throat. I loved it. I closed my eyes and just clasped his thighs as he thrust into my mouth one last time, unloading his cum.
His cock was so far inside, that only a little hit the back of my tongue. I swallowed reflexively as he came, and it only seemed to spur him into another orgasm. Finally, when he pulled back, Dex tucked himself back in his jeans and helped me stand.
"Oh, shit, Baby," he said. "I'm so fucking sorry. Your knees..."
I looked down. My knees were scraped a little, slightly red. "Don't worry," I assured him, reaching to press the button that would let the elevator keep ascending. "It probably won't even bruise." I really hoped no one had been trying to use it while we were in here. I also hoped the elevator didn't have cameras. I looked up, worriedly. Dex looked up as well and must have caught on to what I was thinking.
"My family owns the hotel, Baby," he said. "Don't worry about it. If there are tapes, I'll get rid of them." I sighed and sank into his warmth as he curled his arms around me. I could always trust him to protect and take care of me.
* * *
I was still smiling when we entered the hotel suite only to come to a shocking and abrupt halt. Cody and Taylor stood together in front of the couch, their heads bowed towards each other. When the door shut behind Dex and me, they both looked up.
I hesitated in the doorway with Dex at my back. The expression on both of their faces was withdrawn, distant, and deeply worried. "What's wrong?" I started at Dex's deep, commanding tone at my back. He stepped around me, drawing Cody and Taylor's gazes.
"Darren didn't go to the meeting," Cody said. "We went to pick him up and he wasn't there. We met with the coach and manager, they said that he had already called them and canceled."
"Did he say why?" Dex asked.
I didn't move from the door as Dex walked further into the suite. Taylor shook his head. "He hasn't responded to our calls or texts. We can't get ahold of him."
Dex sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "He has to come back at some point."
I shook my head. "No, we should go look for him."
The guys turned towards me. Dex's nostrils flared in irritation. "We can't go looking for him in a city we’re unfamiliar with. I certainly can’t let you do that.”
I pulled away as he approached me. "Let me?" I asked through clenched teeth. "I think you have something wrong here. You don't let me do anything. I make my own choices, Dex. You may control things in the bedroom, but don't mistake that for controlling me," I said.
"Jamie–"
I shook my head when he reached out. "No, I'm going to look for Darren and you can either stay here or help me." With that, I turned around and opened the door. The second I did, someone's phone rang. I turned back. It was Taylor's. His eyes widened as he fished it out of his pocket and looked at the screen.
"It's him," he said.
"Answer it," I said, still standing in the doorway.
"Put it on speakerphone," Dex said.
Taylor did as we said, quickly flicking his thumb over the screen of his phone and hitting the speaker. "Taylor?" I sighed in relief as Darren's voice came through loud and clear. Dex held up a hand for me to stay quiet and I glared at him, resisting the urge to slap his hand down like a child.
"Dare, where are you, man?" Taylor asked.
"Listen, Tay, I'm sorry. I couldn't go through with the meeting. I just need some time to myself. I know you and Cody have been calling. I'm sure it won't be long before Jamie is calling too." He was damn right about that. "Just tell them...fuck...I don't know...I just need a few hours to myself. I'll be back. Just...I gotta go, man."
"Don't disappear on us," Taylor said. "Please, man. We're worried about you. Whatever it is, it'll be fine."
"I'll call later. I just can't right now. I have to be alone."
Taylor sighed. "Okay. But if I call you, fucking answer. I'll try not to, but please don't you fucking shut us out."
"I gotta go, Taylor. I'm sorry." The line went dead.
Dex looked back at me. "You heard from him," he said. "You know he's fine, please Baby, don't leave. I don't want you out there alone."
I sighed, stepping back into the apartment. I avoided his touch when he reached out to me, and I saw that it hurt him, but I was too angry to care. I would give Darren his hours alone, but as soon as the sun set, if he wasn't fucking back, I was going after him and damn anyone to try and stop me.
* * *
The time went by slowly. An hour and then another and another until the sun had set and the moon had risen. It was almost ten pm by the time I’d had enough. I peeked out into the living room of the hotel suite. Dex, Taylor, and Cody were all sitting there. The television was on, but I wasn’t sure how much they were watching. Dex paced back and forth like an angry predator.
Quietly, I closed the door and tiptoed to the balcony. Outside, the night air was crisp. To my left were flat windows that the guys would be able to look out over through the suite living room. To my right, there was another balcony. It was a scant two feet from my own. It likely led into the suite alongside ours. I looked down over the edge. We were five floors up.
There was no way the guys would let me go looking for Darren. The last time I had texted him, he had told me that he was sitting in a library. He didn’t say which one, but I was sure it wouldn’t be far. I checked my pockets. I had my wallet and keys. My phone for emergencies. But I knew that when the guys found me gone, they would be calling and texting nonstop. Dex could probably track me, so I kept it off. I would just sneak over to the other balcony, check the sliding glass doors – they didn’t lock balcony doors five floors up, did they? – and then slip through into the hall. Hopefully, no one was currently staying in that suite.
With a deep breath, I told myself it was time. I edged closer to the railing of the balcony and peeked over once more. Cars passed by and honked beneath me. I held my breath. This was for Darren, I thought. I reached across to the other balcony and then slowly edged my hip onto the railing. It didn’t budge – that was good, right? I swung a leg over and the back of my ankle hit the other balcony. I could do this.
I turned and lay on my stomach, the railing of my balcony digging into my abdomen as my other leg came up and soon both of my feet were across the other railing and I was slowly working my way backwards until my feet landed and I was on the opposite balcony. I didn’t stop to celebrate. Instead, I hurried to check the locks on the sliding glass doors. I was in luck, not only was it left unlocked, but it appeared that no one was in the suite. I quickly ran through and peeked out of the door leading into the hotel hallway.
When I didn’t see anyone, I moved out and quietly shut the door behind me. I walked to the elevator, trying to keep my steps light, and when I got into the elevator and pressed the button, I watched the doors closed, breathing a sigh of relief. I had made it. Now, it was time to find Darren.
* * *
I looked all over. I ran by a convenience store, bought a map, and circled
every library in the area. It was almost funny to me. Darren and I had met and gotten together in a library and now I was hunting him down, searching through closed libraries all over Washington DC. Finally, I came across the last library on my list. It was a tall building with numerous columns all down the front. It looked old. The lights were out. One lone figure sat on the steps leading up to the doors that led inside.
"Darren?" I slowly moved towards him.
"Not now, Jamie." I stopped at the sound of his voice. He sounded so tired, ragged. It made my chest ache.
I stepped closer to where Darren sat. I sat down a few spaces to the side of him and looked over, waiting. I gripped the edge of the stone steps and looked up. The city was still lit up enough that I could scarcely make out the stars shining over us. Despite how great I found the city, it made me miss our smaller town. It wasn't nearly as bright there as it was here. Here the stars were invisible. At Winthrope, nighttime was a time of solitude and peace.
"I can't, Jamie," Darren said, drawing my attention back.
I glanced over and swallowed around a thick throat. "You can't what?" I asked.
"I can't move here," he said. "It isn't what I want. I know maybe it's what would be best. I'd be making more money, I'd be living in the fucking capital. Maybe it's what you want, but I can't do it."
My eyes burned. Is that what he thought? He thought I had pushed him into the meeting with the coach and manager because it was what I wanted? I shook my head and slid closer to him. He didn't even bother looking up. My hand hovered hesitantly over his back, unsure if I should touch him. I couldn't not touch him, though.
I laid my palm on his back, and Darren tensed. "I want you to be happy," I said slowly. "Whether that means living in Washington DC and playing football and making millions or living in Winthrope and working as a personal trainer for the rest of your life." Darren raised his head and his eyes met mine. Dark circles lined the creases beneath his eyes and I reached forward with my other hand to rub them.
