by Anthology
Lily is here, speaking on her cell, seeming stressed as she leans forward in her seat halfway across the dining room. She’s wearing a different outfit, but I wonder if I can catch a whiff of her and find that my scent is still all over her. She hasn’t noticed me. Gerome Forer should be here soon, but I can’t resist pushing away from my table and heading over to her.
“Everything all right?” I ask.
Her lips purse in annoyance, but as she drops her phone and looks up, her expression relaxes. Our eyes lock. Her mouth falls slightly open. I’m pleased to see my presence makes her eyes light up.
“I’m actually waiting for a potential client,” she smiles. She checks her phone. “But now he’s twenty minutes late and he hasn’t answered my calls.” Her face falls again, clearly mulling over her client meeting. I take the seat next to her without asking.
“Something probably came up,” I tell her. “That’s why he hasn’t gotten in touch. This snowfall is getting pretty serious. Have you looked outside?”
Both our heads turn to the swirling mass of white on the other side of the windows. The sun has only just set, but the storm makes it seem dark as midnight beyond the snow.
Lily’s elbows come to rest on the table and her head drops forward. “I can’t believe this.”
“Hey, let me buy you a drink.”
“I don’t need a drink,” she mutters at the mistletoe centerpiece. “I need a contract.”
“The client will reschedule.”
She finally looks at me. “Or hire someone else.”
I shrug. “Then fuck him.”
She looks appalled.
“Seriously,” I say. “If he’s so eager to sign without meeting you, he’s screwing himself. Fuck him.”
Her eye twitches.
My waitress finds me and sets my drink on Lily’s table.
“A bottle of Merlot,” I tell the waitress. “Two glasses.”
Lily slumps back in her chair when it’s just us again. “I wish I could say that. Fuck him, I mean. But it’s not so simple.”
I scratch my jaw and think about what to say next. With all the profanity being uttered, the only thing I can think about is getting Lily back to my room so I can do just that to her. I’m almost too relaxed around her to say anything that doesn’t have to do with me being inside of her.
“What’s so important about this meeting?” I ask.
“I’ve never been invited to pitch for a deal this big. I’m the small fry startup, and for the first time, a major news media organization is open to working with us. That’s a huge deal in this brave new online world. But don’t let me bore you. I’m a software designer.”
I blink and stare at her. “And that’s for which news media company again?”
“Tapped.”
It takes a moment for me to get my jaw moving. “Interesting,” I breathe out.
Lily looks at me like I’m crazy. “What?”
I clear my throat. “We’re here to meet the same guy. Gerome Forer, right?”
Her eyes go wide. “What?”
“So, that’s a yes.”
“I don’t understand,” she mutters in confusion.
“I do. Mr. Forer is a busy man. Meeting us both on the same day makes sense.” I look around the room. “I’d put money down that one or two of these restaurant patrons are also here for the same reason.”
Lily’s lips part and she sputters. “B… but...”
“Hey. It’s not a huge deal. At least we can fill our time…creatively.” I chuckle. “Here’s an idea. Room service. I’ll take the wine sent up to my room, or yours.”
Her face darkens. “This isn’t fun and games for me. It is a big deal.”
I cock my head. “It was a meeting. We’re early on in the process. You really thought Forer would show up and just hand you the gig?”
“A girl can hope. Or maybe you just assumed he’d give your company the contract,” she snaps.
I recoil back. The viciousness is a new side to her. Still, if she’s a startup, she just doesn’t have a clear idea about how long these business deals can take to finalize. I decide I won’t hold it against her.
“Wait a second,” Lily says. “Are you… are you Nick Marshall?”
I nod. “In the flesh.”
All the color drains from her face. “That’s how you can laugh.”
“All right, now you’re really not making sense.”
“You’re one of the top dogs in this niche area. I’ve heard about you. Your firm is well-positioned. Losing another client is no big deal to you.”
Her words are full of spite. They get under my skin and prick me like a thousand tiny knives.
“Now hold on a second. Don’t just assume you know how important a deal is or isn’t to me.”
She stands. “I need to get out of here.”
“You’re not serious.”
“I just had sex with my competition. I’m about as serious as I can be.”
Lily grabs her purse and stalks off.
Chapter 4
Lily
Way too much is going through my head. I can’t process it all right now. I need to get away from this lodge. Ideally, it would mean seeing Mr. Forer today. Heck, I’d take anyone from Tapped who would listen and have the decision-making authority to tell me yes.
I also need to forget that I just fucked my competition up against a wall—and I liked it so much, I was about to go back for seconds.
“Miss Henderson?”
The restaurant hostess steps towards me, a slip of paper in her hand. “A call just came in for you.”
I nearly rip the paper from her hand.
Lily,
I regret having to miss our meeting. As I’m sure you know by now, the roads are impassible due to the snowstorm. Feel free to contact my office after the holidays to reschedule. Happy Holidays,
Gerome Forer.
I stare at the hostess. “The roads are that bad?”
She wrinkles her nose and nods. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“And taxi cabs aren’t available?”
“I’m sorry, Miss Henderson. The front desk has been working hard to arrange taxis and shuttles for some of our other guests. Sadly, we have not been successful. The roads are closed in several places, so until the storm passes, I’m afraid that we’re all stuck here.”
The note falls to my side. “Thanks,” I mutter.
“Let me know if you need anything else.”
Snowed in. I’m actually snowed in. I’ve lived on Staten Island my whole life and this has only happened maybe once or twice before. But now here I am, stuck in New Jersey, on the wrong side of the bridge, and the most important meeting of my career ends before it gets started.
I need that Tapped deal. I need it bad. I’ve spent months creating this new digital platform. It’s perfect, exactly what Tapped needs.
And if I don’t sell it to them…
I can’t even think about that. After multiple loans and months of putting a job on hold so I can design and get my business off the ground, this deal is my last hope. If it falls through, I’ll have to move out of my apartment. I’ll be back living with my parents. I might even be back to working at the family deli. My NYU education will have amounted to nothing. I’ll be starting all over, desperately searching for clients and deals.
I’ll be royally fucked.
No.
That’s not going to happen.
Taking a deep breath, I look across the dining room. Nick is in the same spot, reading what must be another note from Mr. Forer. He doesn’t even flinch. Because this would probably be a fun pet project. His company is so successful, he’s got offices in Silicon Valley.
He’s my competition, and he may be set for life, but I could use a dick between my legs. I head back to him and take the seat I left. He looks up without a trace of surprise.
“Too bad about that meeting,” he says.
“Yeah,” I answer.
The waitress arrives with the wine. We’re qui
et while she pours. After she leaves, Nick pushes my untouched glass towards me.
“Go ahead,” he says. “Have a drink. You may as well help me finish it before we leave.”
“We’re not leaving. We’re snowed in.”
The wine glass stops halfway to his mouth. “You’re not serious.”
“As the hotel reception. We’re stuck here.”
“Fuck.” Nick sets his wine glass back down. He’s only disappointed for a split second because his lips turn up into a playful smile. “Cleared schedules and nowhere to go can be a good thing.”
“Are you serious right now?” I say, but I don’t mean a word. After all, I was thinking the same thing, which is why I’m back at his table. But I like keeping a guy on his toes. He needs to work for it. I want to see if he’s any good at talking a woman down from a ledge.
“Not at all. Who wouldn’t want to get your hot little hands all over me again?”
“Uh, me,” I say, raising my hand for effect. “I don’t fraternize with the enemy.”
His mouth draws into a tight line. “You’re not my enemy. We’re like David and Goliath. Do you know that story?”
“Are you trying to say I’m too small to be in contention?”
“No, I’m saying I’m Goliath, and you…you’re the annoying fly that buzzed around David’s face as he readied his slingshot.”
My blood boils. “You think I can’t get this deal right out from under you?”
“Well sure, you can be under me, but I’d still land the deal.”
“You’re a piece of work!” I screech.
“I am.”
“You’re my competition. And you know what? I’m glad to learn what a massive prick you are…and I’m not talking what’s below the belt.”
“Those are pretty strong words.”
“Yeah, well...”
He cuts me off. “Yeah well nothing. Us being competitors doesn’t give you an excuse to be so rude. All I was suggesting is that we just enjoy our time here. It sounds like we’re snowed in and not going anywhere.”
“That’s easy for you to say. This contract is just another one to you, another notch on your belt.”
I didn’t mean for my words to have a sexual connotation, but they did. I look away, cheeks burning hot.
“You seem to have an anger management issue.”
I glare at him. He hasn’t seen anything yet. But really, I’m not frustrated with him. He’s just the easy target. It’s this situation. I was counting on having a real shot with Tapped. The fact that Mr. Forer blew me off says a lot about how important I am to them. This afternoon has turned into a mess. The only right thing to do is get out of here, and even that can’t happen.
I grab the wine glass and down half of it in one swallow.
Nick reaches a hand across the table and cups my cheek. “You should know…I’m hard as fuck right now. I love a little rage in my women.”
Anger fills my chest and makes my pulse pound at my temples. My fingers curl around the glass’ stem. It takes all my willpower to not fling the rest of the wine in his face. It’s not his comment that hits a button. It’s his casual attitude. It’s that relaxed look on his face. He’s one of them. Nick is in the boys’ club. Those cocky, smarmy dudes in button-ups and smart shoes that have probably never touched dirt. They made their first few millions before they could legally drink. Because it was handed to them in a trust fund. He’s used to getting what he wants when he wants it.
It's a shame I spread my legs for Nick before noticing he’s a self-absorbed, entitled assclown. No wonder he thinks he can fuck me once and assume he owns me.
“Fuck you, and your boner,” I say through gritted teeth.
He smiles. “Relax. You’re losing your shit for no good reason. Did I drag you into your hotel room? Maybe I’m wrong, but you seemed to enjoy every second of what happened.”
“Too bad you won’t get to enjoy another one.” I can’t look at him without my blood boiling. Reaching down to the floor beside me, I begin to pick up my purse. Nick is just fast enough to get to his feet before me.
“If you say so.” He smirks as he heads out of the restaurant.
My ears are hot and buzzing. This has turned into the pre-Christmas meeting from hell.
There’s only one thing to do.
I grab the wine bottle and fill my glass to the brim.
Chapter 5
Nick
“You can’t be serious,” I tell the receptionist.
Her sunny facade flickers. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry, but all flights out of JFK have been canceled.”
I run my hands through my hair as I brainstorm some alternatives. “And there really isn’t a taxi or private limo service that will come out here?”
“We’ve been trying all afternoon, Mr. Marshall. It’s not possible until the weather clears.”
“Damn it.”
The receptionist flinches. It’s clear to me that she’s been on the receiving end of a lot of pissed off hotel guests.
“Thanks,” I mutter, turning away. No point in being a total dick.
Standing beside the Christmas tree, I pull my phone out and open my Uber app. It’s no use. There are zero drivers in the area. It’s the same with Lyft. I’m stuck here.
With no transportation and nothing to do until this weather system passes, I give myself a challenge that involves me, an apology, Lily’s bare ass underneath my fingers, and my tongue deep in her cunt. I can handle the caustic attitude and her resentment that she’s no competition for my firm.
I put my phone away and stare at a glistening tree ornament, debating. The red orb catches and throws light back out. Silent Night plays on. A family laughs in the corner of the foyer. It’s still three days till Christmas, no matter where I am and no matter what’s happening. It’s still a shitty time to spend alone.
I’m sure Lily will at least agree to that.
I find her in the same place I left her, the only thing different is the wine bottle is now empty, and she’s working on a second one. Her eyes roll at the sight of me.
“Back so soon?” she quips.
I sit next to her. “How about we start over? We’re both stuck here. Let’s make the most of it. I’d say dinner is a great way for me to extend an olive branch How about it?”
The corner of her mouth twitches. Not waiting for her answer, I pick up my menu. She stays. We order dinner and sit uncomfortably for a couple minutes.
“You’re cute when you’re irate,” I tell her.
Lily narrow her eyes at me. “I see right through you.”
“Don’t hate me because you jumped to conclusions about the meeting with Forer.”
“This has nothing to do with Forer. It has to do with you being a smug, bastard with a cocky attitude.”
I open my mouth to keep rubbing her the wrong way, but dinner arrives. I’m starving. We keep the talk to a minimum. We barely speak, but when we do, I’m the one initiating. Lily maintains her animosity with up until she finishes her meal, which is when she promptly throws her napkin on the table and gets to her feet.
“Thank you for the meal, Nick. Have a good evening.”
I sign the bill to my room. “I’ll make sure you get there safely,” I tease.
I expect some resistance, but it’s not there as I follow her out of the dining room and through the foyer in the direction of her room. My cock stirs. Lily is still the finest piece I’ve had in a long time. It’s a shame such a superb connection is wasted just because she’s bummed about a canceled meeting.
“You know, I can tell that you want me to help get things off your mind,” I suggest in complete seriousness.
“Oh my God,” she growls, speeding up.
At her door, she spins around to face me straight on. “Let’s forget about what happened, all right? It was a mistake.”
“Sure. It was a mistake that we stopped when did, just because we’re professionals, and Forer is not.” I raise my eyebrows. “The way I see it, we o
we it to ourselves to not let Tapped get the best of us.”
She lets out a laugh. “So, what you’re saying is I should sleep with you to stick it to Tapped.”
“Yes.”
“A revenge fuck…that’s your angle?”
“Why not?”.
Lily cocks her head to one side. “You think this is all just a game.”
“And you’re way too serious. At least let me help you get that stick out of your ass while we’re stuck here.”
Her arms fold. “Oh, that’s rich. You really think this…approach is working on me?”
“You tell me. I read body language, balance sheets, and software code; not minds.”
“Well, sorry if I didn’t hit the peak of my success at nineteen when a trust fund was released in my name. Some of us regular people still have to work for what they want.”
I’m a bit confused.
“You think I didn’t have to work for what I have?”
She flips her hair. Vanilla wafts my way, mixing with my building irritation.
“That’s not what I said. I said you don’t—”
“No, I think that’s precisely what you were getting at.”
Lily’s hands curl into fists. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”
“I’d like to put something else in your mouth.”
Her eyes go wide. I can’t help smiling. She’s so quick to react, pushing her buttons is almost fun. It doesn’t help that getting a rise out of her does the same to my dick. That, and the fact that she’s fucking gorgeous.
And we’re stuck here.
“You presumptuous asshole!” she gasps, rummaging through her purse for her key. She swipes it against the lock without looking.
I’ve heard just about enough. Stepping forward, I grab the back of her head, silencing her with an open-mouthed kiss.
Chapter 6
Lily
Nick steps me backward into the room. I can’t say he’s pushing my limits or forcing the issue, because my arms are gripping his shirt and helping him get us past my threshold. I’m light-headed with euphoria. He tugs my shirt out of my pants, turns me around, and grinds his stiff cock on my ass as he strokes my lower stomach beneath the fabric. Two strong, warm hands—hands I didn’t know I missed—feel their way slipping between my pants and thong panties to cup my mound as he sucks on my neck.
