It's a Work Thing

by Michelle Karise

I spent the rest of the evening catching up on emails before I turned in. For the longest time, I stood outside the master bedroom door and contemplated knocking. I needed to talk to her and hold her—anything I could do to keep her from slipping from my grasp.

  Seconds crept by as I tossed and turned all night, having visions of how her face crumpled when I revealed my actions. At the crack of dawn, I needed to work out my frustrations, so I started the day with a run. I replayed the last week's events during the entire three miles. I ran faster to relieve the building tension and to take my mind off the fact that a beautiful woman was sleeping in my bed. And I'd hurt her. As punishment, I ran until my calves screamed and my arches pounded.

  I returned to the condo and took a long, cold shower. I downed a cup of espresso and prepared breakfast. Whisking the eggs and gruyere cheese with the sautéed vegetables, I prepared a country frittata as Jasmine slept.

  Sounds from the master bedroom alerted me that she was up and making herself presentable. Just as the eggs were out of the oven, she walked into the living area. Seeing Jasmine in pajamas made me optimistic. At least, she wasn't in a rush to leave.

  "Mornin'. Something smells delicious." She perched on the barstool at the island.

  "Good morning. I made a frittata. There's fruit salad and bacon. Would you like coffee or orange juice?"

  "Juice, please."

  I pulled a glass from the cabinet and poured orange juice from a pitcher. I placed the glass on the island and stood directly in front of her. I stared at her until her eyes met mine.

  "How did you sleep?" she asked.

  "I didn't sleep a wink. I stood outside the door and debated knocking,” I said

  "I was awake. I thought about coming to you."

  The fact that she wasn’t in a rush to leave signaled that we could rebound from my confession.

  "I worried that you would leave."

  "I thought about it. I'm not happy to hear about the blackmail, but I appreciate you coming clean to me. It's easy for me to say what I would or wouldn't do. I'm not the person caught in the middle. Tell me what you need."

  "I need a friend."

  "I imagine this is a difficult and emotional situation to face alone. I'm here to be of support. Whatever you need, I'll be there for you." She reached for my hand and squeezed it. "So, what's on today's agenda?"

  "Wear sunscreen and bring your sunglasses. We're going on a Frank Lloyd Wright tour."

  We rushed through breakfast and dressed at a breakneck speed. I'd hung up from the condo valet service when I received a call from Hunter.

  "Hoss, I'm sorry to call you on your day off. I met with Chace. Dynex experienced a security breach. Austin's working on it, and it appears to be under control."

  "What type of breach?"

  "Someone sent a malicious email to the entire Accounts Payable department. It referenced a real invoice number, and it appeared to come from Nic. A junior analyst thought it was a legitimate request and issued the payment. The database team is investigating transactions, and Austin is reviewing the traffic."

  "How would a hacker know who works in the accounts payable department? Why would anyone fall for that? We've trained associates on avoiding cyberattacks."

  "The young lady cried her head off. She thinks Jeff will fire her." He paused for a second. "I'm afraid the display of tears won't move Jeff. Poor kid. It was a convincing email; I could see how it fooled her. I briefed Nic and Jeff. Nic asked why you weren't on the call. I said that you were on a much-needed vacation day and that I would handle it. She backed away from the topic. I don't want to keep you. Everything is under control."

  I ran a hand through my hair. "Thanks. Call me when you get more information."

  "Will do."

  I let out a rush of air as Jasmine stepped into the living room. Her eyes widened when she noted my tense stance, and she walked over to me. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

  "That was Hunter. There is an active security breach at work."

  "Dynex is all over the news. The attention is good for the company but bad for IT. I noticed you guys were using freeware and bundled security tools. The two-person operation was okay for a startup but not sufficient for a public organization. You should consider implementing a full-scale program."

  "Hunter and I submitted a proposal earlier this year. Nic and Jeff shot it down because we'd spent millions on the new building and furniture. It wasn't in the budget."

  Jasmine rolled her eyes and smacked herself on the head. "The woman is incredible. She's routinely on the wrong side of technology. She doesn't give a fuck about the company. What's going on now? Do you want to go in?"

  "Hunter has it. He will call me back with the details."

  "Why don't we take a raincheck on sightseeing? I would like to look at that email."

  Grateful that she understood the demands of the job, I hugged her tightly, sank my nose in her hair, and inhaled her sweet, feminine smell.

  "Thank you for sticking around," I murmured against her hair and stroked my hand along her back.

  We spent the afternoon reviewing the emails, and I fielded questions from Nic and Jeff. Once the frenzy calmed, we crashed on the sectional and watched movies until Jasmine drifted off to sleep. She didn't wake when I lifted and carried her to the master bedroom; she felt as light as a feather in my arms. I gingerly placed her in the center of the bed before using the remote control to close the room-darkening draperies. With a parting kiss to her forehead, I turned and exited the bedroom, closing the door softly behind me. I returned to the living room and continued to work on reports until after midnight.

  I was sound asleep when, in the middle of the night, the right side of the mattress dipped, and cool air hit my bare chest as the layers of covers lifted. Jasmine slid into the bed, wrapping a slender arm around my waist. She inched closer and closer until her body clutched mine. Her body was as soft as rose petals and as warm as the summer sun.

  Her hand searched along my arm until she found my fingers and intertwined hers with mine. She kissed my right shoulder.

  "Hi," she drawled, her sexy voice tinged with desire and her southern accent.

  Then she did it. She wrapped her long, slender leg around me, the warm heat awakening me. I turned and faced her, reaching a hand to her soft face, tracing her lips with my thumb. My body relaxed as she snaked her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss.

  My tongue sought hers. Her lips were firm as she claimed my mouth and rained kisses all over my face. Her kisses were exactly what I expected from a high achiever—flawless and persuasive.

  No coercion was necessary for me. I was ready and willing to give her everything she desired. Whatever Jasmine wanted, my fingers, tongue, or cock, was hers for the taking.

  My fingers traced over her silk cami until my thumbs found her stiff nipples. I lightly circled the pebbled flesh before cupping her tits. My mouth watered as I imagined licking and sucking the full, generous handfuls.

  My cock was rock hard the instant she slid into the bed, but it was granite when I licked her nipples.

  I'll bump my hips a little. I rolled my hips, grinding my erection into her. "Do you feel how much I want you? Tell me you want me too."

  "Fuck me." She moaned into my mouth.

  I rolled her over onto her back. Raised on my haunches, I moved between her opened legs. Her skin against mine was the remedy for the pain in my lower extremity. I hooked my thumbs on the waistband of her leggings and pulled them down, flung them off, and dropped them on the floor.

  She lifted her pelvis and shimmied her panties down. I held the damp sliver of fabric to my nose and inhaled the sweet, pungent scent. She whimpered and raised her hips, trying to rush me to proceed.

  Some would argue that I'd lived a charmed existence. Present work drama excluded. I'd proceeded through life with high achievement and celebration, but no promotion, award, or championship win could ever replace the prize sprawled across my bed.

  "Tell me wha
t you like," I whispered as I slowly massaged her clit with my thumb.

  Jasmine

  What had I gotten myself into?

  I didn't like messes. I appreciated people and scenarios that were straightforward and logical.

  The Dynex engagement was a mess—corporate blackmail, cybercrime, and lust all tangled into a flaming heap. I'd spent the better part of last night debating on booking a hotel room for the rest of the weekend, but one look in Garrett's eyes was all it took to realize he needed me.

  Vowing to be there as a sounding board and only to act if he'd specifically asked, I'd sucked up my anger and put it all behind me. I'd pitched in and helped identify the origin of the email. I'd followed the trail and determined that the intruder was likely a criminal organization based out of Eastern Europe or Russia.

  After overdosing on every John Hughes movie known to humanity, Garrett had carried me to his dark master bedroom, where I catnapped for what felt like hours. I'd awakened and stared at the ceiling as if it showed the answers to all of society's ills.

  Despite everything that Garrett had confessed, I wanted him. I could have stayed alone in his bed. Instead, I took matters into my own hands.

  Tiptoeing down the hallway that led to the guest bedroom would forever change our relationship. I knew that once I made the next move, there would be no going back. I was one hundred percent sure that I wanted Garrett Hamilton in my life.

  I slid in the bed, and the butterflies in my stomach turned cartwheels from the heat radiating from his body.

  "Tell me what you like," he said as he lowered his mouth to my nipples and tugged. His fingers gently glided a path from my wet, slick channel to my distended clit. I couldn't catch my breath to say what I needed.

  "I like everything." His fingers dipped inside. "Yes. Like that. Then I'll want you to fuck me until I can't walk."

  "Darling, I can do that and more. Jesus, you are so fucking hot. I'm the luckiest man on this earth, but you are luckier because I’ll fuck the life out of you. Are you ready for that?" His fingers sped up their movements, leading me closer to the edge. I closed my eyes and rode through the waves of sensation.

  "Use your words. Jasmine, do you want me to fuck you?" He stopped moving, bringing my journey to release to an abrupt stop.

  "Yes." My response came out in an impatient huff.

  "Good. You and that gorgeous little pussy are mine. Do you hear me?" He resumed slowly fingering me while circling my clit with his thumb. "It's mine to touch, to taste, and to fuck."

  With that, he held me by the waist and positioned his mouth at my wetness. Before I could register what was happening, he hooked his arms around my thighs and dove in.

  "Oh, my God. So good," I said as his tongue opened my lips. I nearly lost my mind when he licked down my slit and pierced me with his tongue. He darted in and out of my pussy. In response, my moans reverberated throughout the room.

  My eyes rolled to the back of my head before flittering shut as he fucked me with his tongue, lavishing all of his attention on my needy cunt. He had skills. I especially liked it when he targeted my g-spot before repeating the movement against a different spot. The anticipation and uncertainty of the location of the next lick had me squirming and bucking.

  "You taste like everything good," he growled, continuing the sweet battery of my clit.

  My orgasm began a slow, arduous ascent from deep inside of me. Waves of lust radiated from my belly button down through my pleasure center. Concentrating on the sensation, I squeezed my eyes shut, until black roses bloomed and danced underneath my lids.

  Undone and broken, I flopped back against the bed. My chest rapidly rose and fell as I attempted to put myself back together. The guest room door opened, and Garrett slipped out of the room. Well, damn. I wrote it off as he needed to jack off, but he didn't need to leave the room; I would have enjoyed watching.

  He returned to the room as quickly as he'd walked away.

  "Bottled water and condoms," he said. I heard what I assumed was a box of condoms landing on the nightstand.

  The crack of a seal breaking on the bottle cap echoed in the quiet space. He raised the bottle to his lips and gulped. I jumped as he ran the bottle along my arm. I held the bottle to my mouth and sipped, the cool liquid quenched my thirst, but not my craving for that dick.

  The rustle of fabric was a suggestion that he had removed his pajama bottoms. Naked, he stood before me, the city lights illuminating his form. Each muscle quivered then tightened as he ran a hand down his perfectly chiseled abs and cupped his cock. He gazed down at me and rubbed himself, not too fast and not too slow. The intent was not to seek pleasure but to prep himself . . . for me. He grunted with each stroke as his cock lengthened and thickened. The rhythm was hypnotic and the vision before me erotic. My pussy clenched as I watched him pump himself.

  “Here, let me help you." I sat up in the bed and crawled over to the mattress's edge. I gripped him, noticing the amount of space between my thumb and forefinger, and stroked in a similar rhythm as he'd done before. Garrett's cock was impressive as fuck—thick and heavy and just . . . big. I could barely wrap my hand around the erect muscle. He would never fit into my mouth. Fitting in my pussy would be a challenge, but I was up for it. "You need help with all this."

  He exhaled slowly, placing a hand on my shoulder to stabilize himself. I was no quitter, I had to give it the old college try. I added additional pressure to my grip as I continued to stroke down his length. A bead of moisture dripped onto my fist.

  "Next time, I want the lights on, so I can see this big, pretty dick. Would you like that?" I cooed and licked from the base to the tip, tasting traces of salty brine coating his crown. Garrett's hips thrust forward at the unexpected move. "Now, now. There's plenty of time for that."

  Sucking the head of his cock into my mouth until it hit the back of my throat, I traced my fingertips along his sack. He was a large man, and there was still much more to take in. I didn't dare balk or complain at this most perfect gift; I handled it like a champ. With his fingers tangled in my hair, I alternated between bobbing my head, licking, and sucking. I worked that big dick until he was close to coming.

  "Jasmine, I want . . . to come inside of you . . ." He choked out the words. I broke away from his dick and inched to the center of the bed. Garrett pulled a foil packet from the nightstand, tore it open with his teeth, and slowly rolled the condom down his length.

  A river flooded between my legs when he positioned himself between my thighs. Sliding himself between my folds, he teased my clit until I was a puddle of wetness and close to orgasm.

  "Fuck me. Fuck me now," I said, my head thrashing back and forth.

  "I like that you're so demanding." He positioned his cock at my opening and then slowly pushed in until he was buried to the hilt. We both moaned loudly. The tight stretch was heaven. He covered my mouth with his and kissed me until I adjusted to his wide girth. "I think I love your pussy."

  He pulled all the way out before sliding back in. There was truth to the phrase, "the first stroke is the best stroke." I almost wept as he began making small thrusts. Each move became bigger and bigger until he slid out and crashed back into me.

  "Like that. Don't stop. Fuck me." I writhed against the mattress as he pumped inside.

  "You're so warm and soft. Delicious. Is this mine? Is this all for me?"

  "Yes. Is this big, hard cock mine?"

  "It's yours."

  There, in the dark, we moved wildly with each other until our release.

  Satiated, we clung tightly to each other. I shivered as the air conditioning blew over our sweat-soaked skin. Garrett pulled the covers over us and pulled me back against his chest. He drew circles on my arm as I stared up at the ceiling. He whispered a word of thanks.

  We pleasured and teased each other until the wee hours of the morning and fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

  I awakened caged in by a heavy arm, and a hard cock plastered to my stomach. I pasted my b
reasts to his broad chest and stayed perfectly still, listening to the light snoring rumbling in my ear. I controlled the urge to brush the stray strand of hair from his forehead. With any other man, the shallow sighs would annoy me, but snoring was adorable when Garrett did it. I slowly inched out of his grasp, careful not to wake him, and crawled out of bed.

  I winced when I stood; pain rippled throughout my lower body. My thighs ached from vigorously bouncing on Garrett's dick. My nipples hardened in my thin tank, and they hurt from the overstimulation. The corners of my mouth felt stretched out from blowing him. My lower back hurt, and I was sure that came from arching my back as he ate my pussy. But there was an unfamiliar throb in my channel that was my body's way of saying that it had received a giving and sexually proficient visitor.

  Garrett was nude, the white bedsheets artfully wrapped around his gloriously chiseled torso. My eyes followed along the lightly haired happy trail to a large protrusion underneath the bed linens. I ignored the dull ache between my legs and lingered a moment to watch while he slept.

  I tiptoed out of the bedroom because I knew that he would be up for another roll in the hay if he awakened. My pussy physically could not do it again. The best thing was to prepare breakfast and check my work emails.

  Out the corner of my eye, I counted five empty condom wrappers and a half-empty bottle of lube on the nightstand. Like a trucker, his sex drive went all night. Where did he find the energy?

  Garrett and I dined at a Japanese steakhouse. The late summer evening was unseasonably cool, and the perfect temperature for the four-block walk back to Garrett's condo. We strolled along the busy sidewalks, stopping to peek in the windows of interesting storefronts. We happened upon a crowded nightclub, Club Elysium. The line, filled with clubgoers dressed in the latest trends, stretched around the block.

  I shimmied to the deep bass sounds pounding against the windows and doors.

  "Do you want to go inside?" Garrett spoke into my ear.

  "I think I'm a little underdressed." I looked down at my dark blue skinny jeans, sheer black top, and black ballet flats.