Sweetness, he said

by Starr, Jude

  I didn't know what to tell Zach. I couldn't deny it. We both knew it was me; he just had no idea of what else had happened that night. What if he found out? No, I thought, this couldn’t be happening. I blushed furiously as I clicked on ‘reply’.

  To: Zachary Reynolds

  From: Iris Hartwell

  Subject: Re:

  Date:

  There isn't much I can say about this picture. I’m sorry. This is obviously hurting your feelings. Nothing I can say will make me or you feel better. Again, I’m truly sorry, Zach. We have to talk about this. I don’t want it to ruin everything, okay?

  I pressed send. I couldn't lie or try to work a story around it. The picture said it all and I felt terrible.

  To: Iris Hartwell

  From: Zachary Reynolds

  Subject: Re: Re:

  Date:

  A picture is worth a thousand words. Nothing you can say will make it better. What’s done is done.

  Good luck with your exam. I’m leaving town right after mine. I won’t see you until I return.

  x

  Fuck. He seemed abrupt in the email, and I figured he was angry and had every reason to be. I hated that he was running away. No goodbye or Merry Christmas before his departure. I had to do something to try and make it right. Could we be even saved? I didn’t think so but I had to try.

  Still wearing my pyjamas, I knocked on Zach's door, not giving a care in the world about what I looked like. Noises were coming from his room.

  “Open the door, Zach, please.” I begged and knocked again.

  The door opened and I saw he had his luggage ready by the door, and his backpack in hand.

  “Iris.” His face was expressionless. “I have to go. I have my biology final in a few minutes.”

  “It's not what you think,” I muttered. Sadness overwhelmed me. I had hurt him, and I hated myself for doing this. Zach had been so good to me, from the beginning of our friendship he’d always done everything he could for me, but I had destroyed everything by kissing Calvin. If he only knew what else I’d done. “Let me talk to you, let me explain. It’s not what you think.” I repeated, hoping that he would listen.

  “It is what I think, Iris! I'm not stupid, okay? You were with him most of the evening at the bar. I know what happened. Just don't act like it didn't.”

  Tears escaped when I realized that what I’d done to him was pretty close to what Damien and Carolina had done to me. I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his neck. I took a deep breath. His smell, the one I had gotten so used to, the one that comforted me, had become so cold. I knew then that I was too late, what I had done to him had ruined everything.

  “I'm so sorry. Being with you, spending the night in your arms meant so much to me. I loved every second of it, Zach.” I wanted to be in his arms again. I needed to feel his love.

  “I did too, but this picture killed everything. It's not him kissing you, it's you kissing him,” Zach said, sounding disgusted. “I have to get going. I'll see you when I get back.”

  I barely had time to kiss his cheek before he pulled away and left.

  “Zach, please.” I begged him.

  Zach stared at me in disgust. No longer the tender look of love into his eyes and it hurt me. I hate what I had done to him, he didn’t deserve this.

  I watched him go, powerless to stop him and sobbing in the middle of the hall. I’d ruined everything and had probably lost my friend. Everything about that night became a nightmare.

  Shower, final and Calvin – I had to get through today and then I could cry all night if I needed to. Be strong, Iris, you came here to study after all.

  *o*o*

  After a much need pep talk from Krystal, I went through the motions of taking my last exam and finally managed to gather up enough courage to meet with Calvin.

  This office was nothing like the one where we had met on the weekend. The walls were painted in a pale shade of blue and every accessory was made of stainless steel.

  On top of being a wealthy man, he apparently had good taste. I waited for him on the chair facing his desk. His secretary had said it wouldn't be long.

  “Iris, I'm glad you came.” His voice returned me to the other night, and the double meaning of his words didn't go unobserved. I took a deep breath. I needed to focus.

  I stood up and turned to face him with the intention of shaking hands, but he cupped my cheek in his palm and watched me as if he could see into my soul.

  “We made the front page of the nightlife and restaurant section. Nice picture, too.”

  “I'm not happy about it at all. It cost me my best friend.” I paused and thought for moment, before eyeing him suspiciously. “Did you have something to do with this?”

  “I only chose the best picture. Stunning, really.”

  “Zach just left for the holidays, feeling like shit because of that picture.” A tiny smile appeared on Calvin’s lips and I accused him. “You did this. You said you didn't like sharing and you’ve done everything in your power to make sure Zach would leave me alone.” My voice rose and with it my frustration with Calvin.

  I pulled away from him and he drew me right back to where I’d been.

  “I'm sorry; I didn't want to upset you,” he said quietly.

  “Look, Calvin, we don't know each other and we already— I don't know what you expect from me, but I won't be doing this again. I'm not like that!”

  “I still have your mark on my skin, to prove you how much you loved it.” His eyes charmed me while his words hit me. He pulled at the collar of his shirt, revealing a small glimpse of reddened skin.

  I blushed cherry red from embarrassment. “Calvin.” His name rolled across my tongue and my body responded feverishly to his touch. How could he manage to get me riled up so quickly?

  We kissed, our tongues intertwined, and he pressed his knee between my legs, rubbing against my groin. It was an intense sensation, one that had my heart skipping a beat. I believed this had to be the perfect time where I would say stop or go with it. Did I want to stop everything and go back to the Iris I knew or would I let Calvin push me to the unknown version of me? I thought of Zach, about all the broken promises and how we had left things this morning. It broke my heart but Calvin’s perfume and touches made me forget about it all in one second. A kiss on my lobe sealed the deal.

  I tried to control myself but next thing I knew; I was undoing his leather belt and pushing his tailored pants down from his hips.

  The next second, I was pushed down onto the white leather couch, and he pulled off my boots and pants. I might have dressed in casual attire on the outside, but I knew a man could never ignore a woman in lace. That much I had learned from Damien. Maybe I had subconsciously planned this moment. I had admit to myself – I craved Calvin Banks.

  “Holy shit, woman. This is why it's you that I want. Unexpected, and sexy. Everything I need. I don't care about the business women or whoever you mentioned earlier, they are all boring and predictable.”

  “The tattoos, they’re a turn on, Calvin.”

  “I'll show you how I can turn you on without you even seeing my tattoos.”

  He kneeled before me and forced me to lie back against the couch. He pinched my nipples with his fingers one last time, before moving down. Down there. Oh, god. I had never let anyone do this to me before. He rubbed his fingers around my clit in tiny circles, with the smallest amount of pressure. The pleasure he created was unbearable. I grabbed his arms, trying to push him away, but he wouldn’t move, instead he kissed and sucked on my clit while I moaned in pure ecstasy.

  “Quiet, Iris. We’re not alone on this floor,” he warned me huskily.

  What?

  His tongue danced at my entrance while his fingers thrust deep inside me in a fast tempo. So deep, each time he reached a spot where my body convulsed and the tension built closer to my breaking point. Calvin kept the rhythm smooth while he nibbled my over-sensitive clit. My back arched as my breasts got his attention.


  “Calvin, you have to stop, I can't,” I pleaded. This situation was getting out of hand.

  Just like that he ignored me and a few seconds later, I had my first real orgasm. My whole body shook, while everything came apart inside me. All the way through my not-so-quiet orgasm he never moved away or stopped pleasuring me.

  “You taste sweet, Iris.” He swept his tongue over his lips.

  If I could have melted into the couch I would have.

  “Turn around and hold on to the couch, sweetness.”

  “Calvin. I’m not sure I want the world to see us.” The way I was positioned, I could give quite a show to anyone turning in our direction from outside.

  “Nice try, sweetness, but they can't see into the building. Now, hold on tight.”

  He caressed my buttocks softly before he spanked my right cheek, drawing me swiftly out of my dreamy state. As the pain radiated through my body, he pushed apart my knees, held my hips in place and thrust into me without pity. He pounded hard and fast, claiming me as his.

  My inside tightened and jolts of excitement invaded my lower body. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until my vision started getting blurry. “Calvin.” I groaned his name. His whole body covered me and I fell flat on the couch, arching my back to give him better access. Holy fuck, he was going to do it again.

  He slowed down and pushed all of my hair to one side. He kissed and suckled on my neck. I heard him chuckle against my skin as he pulled out of me. “Turn around again, sweetheart, and sit on me.”

  What? What did he mean? I turned around and watched him settle on the couch, sitting on his knees. He offered me a hand and guided me to what he had in mind. “Put your legs on each of my thighs and lower yourself on me.”

  I nodded and did what he said. The proximity of my breasts against his chest made me self-conscious and nervous. I had never seen him completely naked and there he was, all muscles and tattoos where I was just boring white and curvaceous.

  “Lower, Iris, it might overwhelm you now, but I'll be nicer this time.”

  Each of his inches entered me, and the deepness he reached made me uncomfortable.

  “Now, hold me tight.”

  I slung my arms around his shoulders and he held the sides of my thighs. He moved his hips and he started moving me up and down over his length. My breasts bounced with the force of his movements. Jesus Christ, I had tried more positions with him than I had in all the years with Damien. As Calvin started to get into the rhythm he wanted, I moved with him in synch. The more time I spent with him, the more some undefinable emotion grew for him. It was the way our bodies reacted to one another. The physical chemistry took possession of us.

  “This is the best sex I've ever had,” I shouted, too loud.

  “You're a little vixen.” He chuckled.

  “You're turning me into one.”

  Sweat rolled down his forehead, he was giving me everything he had. His movement grew faster; he fisted my hair, holding on to me. I started to feel the excitement building up in my body, and I held on to him, my fingers wrapped around his arms. I was almost there when he groaned my name, pushing into me faster than before. He reached his peak before me but he never stopped, even when I begged him. My heartbeat boomed in my temples. A wave of warmth invaded my body, right before my climax hit me like an explosion.

  Calvin scooped me up into his arms and, exhausted, we relaxed together. “That's what I should have done with you the first time. I'm sorry I weirded out on you. I hated myself for taking you like that, at the bar. Not that this is a better place, but I seem to lose control with you. I promise you the next time, we’ll be somewhere respectable.” He smiled shyly and I simply adored it. At that precise moment, for the first time since I had met him, I saw him differently. It made my heart flutter in a strong and powerful way.

  With all the physical energy he’d taken from me, I closed my eyes for instant few minutes. So many things had happened between the two of us. For me, this represented a big deal. In a very short time, I had given Calvin everything I had. Relaxing against his body, I got lost in the moment. Both of us were quiet, and I thought about what he had said – that's what I should have done with you the first time. Calvin obviously had regrets about how everything had happened the first time, and it pleased me because it was the one thing I hadn’t liked about him. For now, the fact that he acknowledged his mistake was enough for me.

  Chapter 5

  There was something about Calvin that made me feel safe. The way his arms held me was protectively claiming me. I couldn't seem to help myself and dozed off in his arms. He had been caressing my hair, removing any tangles and genuinely seemed to like taking care of me.

  “Iris, wake up.” He murmured into my ear.

  Had I really fallen asleep? I opened my eyes and saw him, his beautiful dark green eyes gazing down at me. “Sorry, I guess I was tired.”

  In a very romantic way, his lips left a soft kiss on my lips. “Don't worry about it. It was the best hour I’ve had in a long time.” I blushed. “I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me tonight.”

  “What about tomorrow night? I won’t be any fun tonight. I had a tiring day and I just want to go home and relax. The finals were harder than I anticipated.” And losing my friend, too. Regrets flashed into my mind of losing my friend too. I had done it again but I wanted this. I didn’t stop him. My emotions had me so confused. It felt great to be with Calvin, I couldn’t deny it, but it made it harder for me to accept the damage I had done with my relationship with Zach. That part of my life was over, I knew it. He would never take me back and I would never be able to look him in the face again.

  “Tomorrow night it is. Where should I pick you up?”

  “Broadway Hall.” I paused. “When do you want me to start working for you?” We seemed to keep switching from business situations to personal. Between working and making out, I knew what I wanted.

  “Working with me, not for me.” He left a trail of kisses along my jaw. “Tomorrow, if you can, at 10 am. Aren't you going home for the holidays?”

  “No, I'll be staying here at the residence.”

  “Alone?” He pulled away from peppering my skin with kisses, his eyebrows drawn into a frown.

  “Most likely.” Sadly enough, I would be all alone.

  “That's really sad.” I could hear the concern in his voice.

  “I expected it when I moved here. It's okay.” It wasn’t really, but I didn’t want to complain.

  He continued holding me until his phone rang. From what I understood, he had an appointment in ten minutes and the man was already here.

  “I'm afraid I have to kick you out.” He smiled as he settled me on the couch. “Time flies when I'm with you.”

  We both got dressed, awkwardly watching each other. I had so many things I wanted to ask about his tattoos, but we were out of time. Next time, I decided, hoping that there really would be a next time. Everything seems to be in the air now. At least, we had a date tomorrow night.

  “You should fix your hair. It’s a little messy. My fault,” I chuckled shyly. I had done that to him and I clearly remembered the moment. Anyone who saw him like this would know exactly what we had been doing.

  He ran his hands through his hair, trying to straighten it. “If you need the bathroom, there’s one through there.” He pointed towards a closed wooden door. I grabbed my top and walked towards the bathroom, aware of his eyes on me until I went through the door. The sexual tension between us hadn't dissipated, I could still feel the sensation running through my veins, and the craving for more kept rising. I splashed some cold water on my face, hoping to cool down but Calvin’s laughter from behind my back startled me. His husky laugh seduced me.

  “Too bad, you don't have time for a cold shower.”

  I blushed and hid my face behind the small towel I used to dry my face. He circled my waist from behind and squeezed me tightly in his arms.

  We both caught our reflection in the mir
ror and to me, we looked fucking perfect.

  “Not too bad, eh?” he teased.

  “It looks pretty good to me.”

  He kissed my hair and let me go. I put on my top and when I was done, his eyes were still filled with lust.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow morning at the gym. Danielle, my assistant, will be waiting for you at ten.” He smiled.

  “I still don't understand why you’re so interested in helping me.”

  “Sometimes, you just have to trust your instincts and when I first saw you, I knew they couldn't be wrong.” We faced each other. “You're the sun in my dark days, Iris.”

  I smiled, happy that he hadn't gone with a flower metaphor.

  I tiptoed to reach his lips, and kissed him repetitively before he gripped my head to keep me from pulling back. I grabbed his half buttoned shirt and held him as strongly as I could. I had never been drunk with desire before. I was too dizzy to stand on my own, but not dizzy enough to try and pull away.

  “Calvin, stop.” I said against his lips. “Or we're going to be back on the couch.”

  “What about right here, sweetness?”

  “We can't. You have business to attend.” How was I really able to deny him? It astounded me. He gave my behind a hard spank and left the bathroom to finish getting dressed. I adjusted my top and met him back in his office. I put on my boots, grabbed my things and kissed him goodbye.

  My face was heated, I needed some fresh air. I had to get away from Calvin so that I could think clearly again. The elevator doors opened as soon as I pressed the button. One last time, I glanced towards his office and he stood there, next to the open door, gazing at me. I waved at him and got into the elevator.

  As soon as I stepped foot outside, I rolled on my board. My body was stiff and tired. I decided to go and quit my job at the restaurant and then head home at last.