by Karen Deen
When my mind starts to think of my cock and Zara in the same sentence, I know I’m in trouble. If I’m going to make it to work, I need to calm my imagination… and ego. Time to think about other things. Work is always a good distraction when I need to focus my thoughts.
Knowing Zara has only seen me in a suit, I consider my wardrobe before going to pick up the kids from school and take Sophia to dancing. She’s got to see I’m not always straight-laced and contrived. Not that I’m ever not put together, but sometimes I’m a lot stuffier than others. My family are the only ones who’ve seen me in jeans and a shirt. I work most weekends, so suits are my usual state of dress. I feel confident with a tie, shoulders back in the tailored suit. It’s the feeling of power I love. I never abuse that power, but I use it to keep the family company moving forward for success. Many people rely on me to keep business at its peak. Not only the family but our staff who rely on their jobs to feed their families and pay their mortgages. I take that role seriously. I would never forgive myself if we had to put people out of work. My Dad built this business up from the ground through hard work and grit. He never to this day, put any worker out of a job. I need to keep his company running out of respect for all he did to get it to where it is today.
Thinking through what my day entails, I decide on a suit but reach for my jeans and a black V-neck t-shirt that fit snug across my chest and arms. The jeans will be for when I pick up the kids and take Princess Sophia to dance class. Let’s see the reaction from Zara at my change in style. Out of the suit, and in my tight black shirt. I may or may not have deliberately grabbed the shirt that shows off my abs and arms the best. I work hard in my personal gym as well as in the gym next door to the office.
My sisters tell me that a man in shape is going to attract women. I couldn’t care what they say, but what I do care about is what Zara thinks.
Would she even notice?
It remains to be seen this afternoon. Time to turn up the heat and see if Zara can give in to what she’s feeling when we’re in the same room. There’s no way she can ignore that electricity for long.
I already messaged my secretary, Louisa, last night for her to rearrange this afternoon’s schedule. I need it clear to allow me to take Sophia and Samuel and not have to worry about trying to get back to the office by a certain time. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since Sophia and Samuel came into my life, it’s that you have to be ready to give them your full attention. Especially Samuel. His energy level is high, and he needs to be entertained.
I’ve never thought much about children in my life before now. A lot would have to change in my lifestyle to accommodate a family. Working seven days a week wouldn’t be possible, not that I would want to be doing that if I had a family and a wife I love dearly. Watching my mom and dad and how they raised us, I know I would want to be like that with my children. My dad was always in control of the whole family and made sure we were all safe.
I have taken on that role now. I take great pride in it, even though it can be quite draining. However, I can imagine if I had my own babies, my protective nature would go crazy. It’s going to take a strong woman to marry me and put up with my intensity. The love she would receive in return, along with so many more benefits would hopefully outweigh my bad traits.
Zara has already worked her way into my head and woken up my cock. She’s the first woman ever to make me think of all these things.
Watching her with the students shows me how good she is with children.
Listening to her take me to task and banter back and forwards, is sexy as fuck and makes me rock hard. My cock is surely interested in pursuing that feeling more often.
I need to get to the office and straight into today’s workload. I don’t want anything keeping me from the twins this afternoon, and definitely not from seeing Zara.
Today is the first day of my plan to make Zara mine.
I’m not completely possessive, but I know one thing, and that is I want Zara to be mine and mine alone.
I’m not good at sharing. Zara better be the same. I don’t even know her story yet, but I will soon enough. My story is simple.
I love to fuck women, no strings attached. I’m never an asshole, but I make sure they knew the deal right from the start. There are no overnight stays, no relationships, no hanging around. I don’t have the time for a relationship, but I do have needs, like all men and women. Take it or leave it, that’s who I am. My family has never seen me bring home a date. They aren’t stupid, they know I hook up with women, but they realize it’s nothing serious.
Zara’s different. She’s the first woman to make me stop and take notice of more than her looks and what she could do to ease my urges. Zara’s so much more. She stimulates my mind, and makes me want to get to know her. I want to know what makes her tick, what makes her smile, cry, get angry, laugh and of course, horny and aroused. Because just looking at her has my mind and sex drive running overtime.
My cell vibrates in my pocket. It snaps me out of my Zara daydream. I have never lost concentration from work or on anything, let alone a woman. This shit, I need to get on top of.
“Mom, how are you?” I answer after seeing her smiling face coming up on my phone. Mom is pretty good and never calls me at work unless it’s important.
“Hello, sweetheart. How are you today?”
“Fine, Mom. How are you and Dad? Is everything okay?”
“Of course, Grant, why wouldn’t it be?”
“Mom, because you never call me at work unless it’s important, so I was worried somethings wrong.”
“Oh, Grant, sorry, darling. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just want to check you are right to pick up the kids this afternoon from school and take Sophia to dancing. She loves it so much, I don’t want her to miss it because Zach and Emily are busy with Thomas. Sammy also needs a bit of attention, so he doesn’t think Thomas has taken his place in the family. Also, your father and I would like to stay a while at the hospital tonight and have a good visit with them all. Do you think you could take the kids to dinner before you bring them to the hospital? That way they will be ready for a bath then bed when Zach takes them home? If it is a problem, I can cut my visit short. I can just leave earlier than your father.” Mom falls silent waiting for my answer. Surely, she knows what I’m going to say.
“Of course, that is okay, Mom. I will take the kids for dinner after dancing and then we’ll come for a short visit with Thomas, Zach, and Emily. I’m sure I can manage to feed them and keep them settled. I mean, how hard can it be, they are just kids?” I hear Mom laughing on the other end.
“I am sure wherever you pick will be fine. The kids will soon tell you if it isn’t. But just don’t let Sammy pull the wool over your eyes on how many servings of ice cream he’s allowed. You know he’s good at that.”
“Mom, I run a big company with a lot of staff, I think I can handle two seven-year-olds,” I grumble.
All I hear is Mom laughing in hysterics and trying to get the words out, but it’s mumbled garbage. “Grant, we will see about that, won’t we? Good luck, and I will see you at the hospital tonight. Ring me if you have any trouble so we don’t have to disturb Zach and Emily. I can’t wait to hear all about it.” She’s still trying to stop herself from laughing but fails. I don’t understand what’s so funny, but I guess I’ll find out later. Looking at my watch, I realize I now only have thirty minutes before I need to leave to collect the twins from school. Time to wind up my work day and get ready for an interesting afternoon and night.
Chapter Twelve
Zara
Time to go shopping and buy some new clothes. I’m not sure I can recall the last time I went shopping for myself. Looking in my wardrobe, it tells a sorry story. The shelves and drawers are full of dance/gym gear and not much else.
I have to at least purchase a nice dress or suit for my interview with the dance company. Part of the audition process involves being interviewed by the Board of the dance company. A successful aud
ition is not just on your dance ability. They also want to know about your commitment to the company and your ability to perform under pressure. I have always been a calm person who handles the stresses of a show. Knowing this could be my last shot at a position in the company, I have to nail this interview.
My dancing, I am not worried about. I know my choreography is great and my dancing is the strongest it’s been in years. Being positive is the most important thing I can do because I desperately want this spot in the company. It’s my life’s dream. It might sound cliché but from a little girl all I wanted to do was dance. Not to just dance anywhere, but to dance at the top.
New York Dance Company is the top of the tree. The elite dancers. By becoming a member of the company, you are set for life. It’s the key to opening any door in the dance world after you retire from stage dancing. All that aside, I’m doing this because I just want to dance.
I love nothing more in life than to be overtaken by the power of music. Using your body to express feelings and tell a story is special. It is a gift that I desperately want to be able to share with the world.
My cell buzzes on top of the chest of drawers. I glance at the caller ID to see if it’s worth answering or not. I receive plenty of calls a day and they don’t stop at night time. Parents of my students can be so rude and inconsiderate of after-hours communications. Majority are really beautiful parents and understand that ten at night until seven in the morning is my time and is unacceptable for a phone call. However, some parents don’t understand the concept of boundaries. They’re the same ones who have their children dancing ten classes a week at the age of ten, believing that their child is going to be a star. I have one Mom in particular, who takes the prize for the biggest dance Mom I’ve seen. She won’t leave that poor little girl alone. She’s constantly pushing her to dance more, compete in more competitions, watch what she’s eating and spends her whole time in the studio telling the other parents how good she is. If she is not annoying the other parents, she’s trying to get my attention to tell me her daughter needs to move up to the higher age group because these classes are too easy for her. Don’t get me wrong, her daughter is a beautiful dancer and the most gorgeous and polite little girl. I feel sorry for her. Watching her in class, all she wants to do is dance for fun like her friends. Not be worried about the next competition she has coming up or what her mother is going to say at the end of class to embarrass her.
Her face drops every time her mother opens her mouth. I’m afraid one day, she will rebel against her and give up dancing. All because her mother is trying to live through her daughter. It will be a real shame because her whole face lights up when she starts to dance. I will do my best to try to make sure that never happens, even if I have to stand up to her mother. It will be worth it, just to see Melina happy and dancing.
I swipe my phone to answer it after I see Xavier’s calling.
“Hey, Xavier. What’s up?”
“Hey, Zara. You took your time answering. What were you up to?”
“Just assessing my dismal wardrobe and about to head out shopping to find something for the audition interview. What are you doing calling me up in the middle of the day, shouldn’t you be working?”
“I just had a quick minute, so I wanted to call you while Natalie is busy with a client. You know it is her birthday in a few weeks’ time and I want to organize a surprise party for her. Can you help me do it? I have no idea where to hold it or who to invite. She doesn’t have many friends and never gets out much, so I want to try to give her a big bash and invite people she doesn’t even know to get her to meet some new people.” Xavier takes a big breath after rushing through telling me his plans.
“That’s a nice idea, but I just don’t know if she will like it. She’s so shy and socializing just doesn’t come that easy for her. I don’t know if it will be a very good birthday present for her to have a party. Especially with a heap of people she doesn’t know. What about if we organize a dinner with a few friends, and go from there? Then we can perhaps head out to a night club after that. With a few drinks in her, maybe she might loosen up and we can get her talking to a few guys. How does that sound to you?” In my head, I know how much Nat would absolutely hate a surprise party, let alone with a bunch of strangers. Xavier’s heart is in the right place, just way off-base with this one.
“Yeah, maybe you are right. Start a list of who we should invite and where you think we should have it and I will touch base again in a few days. I better run as she’s finishing up with Mr. Grumpy Pants and she’ll be storming over here any minute to tell me how much she hates training him and what a dick he is to her. I’m just waiting for the day where she snaps and tells him to fuck off and not come back.”
I burst out laughing. I can never imagine Natalie telling anyone to fuck off, but then again, I haven’t seen her pushed to her limits yet. Hopefully I never do. She’s such a gentle-natured girl who brings sunshine wherever she goes.
One day there’s going to be some really great guy come along and sweep her off her feet and live happily ever after. Until then, maybe it’s time we show her how to go out and live life and have a good time.
I wonder how long it’s been since she had sex?
If I had to guess, I would say years, as there hasn’t been any guys around since I have met her. I know I’m in a huge sex drought. The only action I’m getting comes with batteries, but I have a feeling her drought is bigger than mine.
“Okay, Xavier, will do and I will see you bright and early in the morning for a workout with a big-ass smile on my face.”
He bursts out laughing “Who are you kidding? When have you ever turned up first thing in the morning smiling and happy to see me? You know I’m just going to put you in a world of pain as I work your ass off. You just keep telling yourself you’re a morning person and one day you might believe it. Thanks for your help, and I will see you tomorrow. Gotta run, bye.” Silence ensues as Xavier rushes off the phone. My guess is Nat was on her way across the gym floor ready for that whine.
As if I don’t have enough on my plate at the moment with the studio and the audition, but I would never say no when it came to Natalie or Xavier. They’ve become my closest friends over the last few years since my injury. They would never walk away like my ex Mark did.
I glance down to look at the time on my alarm clock. Shit, I better get moving, otherwise I won’t have enough time to do any shopping before class this afternoon. This is my only short teaching day and that’ll be spent with the younger group. I purposely plan the timetable like that to give me time to rehearse and fit a good session in for myself. It’s so important I stay on the top of my fitness and flexibility.
Grabbing my bag, I head to the door. I can’t help but smile thinking of my classes this afternoon. My tiny ballet dancers are the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, and makes my ovaries ache. I don’t know when kids will factor into my life, but I know one thing, I want to be a Mom. Two things stand in my way for that to happen. Firstly, I want to secure a spot in the New York Dance Company. This is something I have worked for my whole life.
The second thing is, I need a man if I plan on having kids. It’s fairly safe to say in my current man drought, I may never make it that far.
One dream at a time. The dance company is my first priority.
After my tiny dancer class, I have a few jazz classes and then finish off with my junior ballet class which the gorgeous little Sophia dances in. Or ‘Princess Sophia,’ as I heard Grant call her. The name suits her and makes me melt.
Shivers run up my spine as I picture Grant. God, that man is pure sex on legs with that hot domineering look he gives. If only he walked into my life at another time. Now, it’s just not possible to think about where a man could fit into my life. This is what my brain keeps telling me. It’s the same thought racing through my mind as I dream of Grant. I long for his touch. I crave to have those strong arms wrapped around me, and his lips on my neck with his hot breath causing my skin
to raise in goose bumps. I want to hear the sound of his voice whispering dirty things he wants to do to me. My heart aches for this in my life. I didn’t realize how much I crave all of that until Grant walked through that studio door like a whirlwind of testosterone. Lord help me, this is going to take all my mental strength to push this longing deep down and ignore it.
Dancing takes priority and until I fulfil that dream I’m not worth anything. I’ve learned that the hard way.
The shops are busy during the lunch time rush with people rushing for food and coffee and others trying to get a few purchases made while on their lunch break. I love to people-watch. You learn so much just by standing still a few moments and taking in your surroundings.
Then there’s the other group. Moms and dads who are out trying to shop before it is time to pick up their kids from daycare or school. It’s rare time they have to themselves in the day.
Sitting at a table in the café, I spot an elderly couple sitting across from me. There’s so many unspoken words between them. The gentleman’s holding his wife’s hand as she stares into his eyes. Her face is soft and full of lines that tell many stories. Lines that show years of smiling, worry, laughing and most of all, loving. The beauty of her face still holds her husband’s complete focus.
His face reads differently to his wife. His is hard, with weathered lines. Lines that come from years of hard work, worrying about providing for his family, and protecting those closest. But what I see the most is his devotion to her. Their moment is broken by the waiter arriving with their cups of tea and a single serving of chocolate cake, and a single fork.
The husband lifts a cup to his lips to test the temperature of his tea. He takes a sip, and I can see the simple pleasure a nice cup of tea has brought him. His next movements, however, bring tears to my eyes and my heart is ready to explode.
