by Ava Hayworth
“You are so hot.” He walks over to me, still dressed in his suit except for the jacket and tie, and runs his hand down my side. His fingers touch the side of my breast and my waist before sliding behind me and gripping my behind and massaging it with hard fingers. Standing completely nude and accessible to him while he is still fully dressed is strangely erotic. I give a little moan as bends down to nuzzle my neck. “You aren’t expecting any guests, are you?”
I feel his chuckle against my neck before I hear it. “No, baby. Just you.” His whiskers scrape against my skin, making me long for his warm mouth to soothe the abrasions. Then James is kissing me, his mouth plundering mine with a ruthlessness that makes my knees weak. He lifts me up to sit on the kitchen island, and I gasp as my skin meets the cold granite. I soon forget the cold as James bends down and kisses his way up my thighs. Pushing my legs wide apart, he places them on his shoulders. My body tenses in anticipation, but James doesn’t seem to be in any hurry. He lifts his head and bores me with a possessive gaze. “You are mine.” His thumbs make circular motions on the back of my thighs, and his warm lips return to their sensual path. “Is there something you want?” The feel of his warm breath against my inner thighs makes me squirm. He moves his hands to my hips pinning me down so I can no longer move.
“You. I want you,” I manage to gasp between pants. I am so tense with wanting that the soft swipe of his tongue makes me cry out. He licks and sucks with intense purpose. My body teeters on the edge as he works his magic. White light bursts behind my eyelids asa an earth shattering release washes over me.
James slowly kisses his way up my body until we are eye-to-eye. “See, extremely responsive.”
A contented “Hmm” is all I can manage before I feel him scooping me up and carrying me into the bedroom.
CHAPTER 7
James’s alarm goes off at what must be an ungodly hour, but I turn my head to see that it is 7 a.m. Groaning in dismay, I tuck my head back down and bury my head under the covers. A hard slap on my behind has me sitting up with a shriek. My indignation relents when I catch sight of a grinning James sitting bare chested beside me. God, he is sexy. “You sure are chipper this morning,” I grumble.
“I got laid last night.”
“Hmm, it must have been good.”
James looks at me as if giving it some thought. “Oh, it was good, but I think with a little more practice it could be even better.”
“Practice, huh?”
“Yes, I definitely think more practice is called for.”
We end up having to rush to make it to work on time. I ask James how he usually gets to work and am surprised when he tells me that he has a driver. When I want to walk to the subway, James puts his foot down, so that’s how I find myself riding in a town car to work, although I convince him to have the driver, whose name is Gary, stop and let me out a short distance from the office. It is only a block, but I enjoy the feeling of blending in with the other Midtown commuters. Everyone is fresh and focused on getting to their jobs, and even the air seems to have an electric charge.
The kinetic morning energy is like a jolt of caffeine. I walk through the lobby doors, where cool air hits me, a stark contrast to the hazy, humid air from outside. I am both frustrated and touched to find James waiting for me at the elevator bank. He has the presence of mind not to stand right next to me, but I can’t help looking at him. The man does look good in his business attire. He is wearing a gray suit that looks almost aquamarine with a peacock azure tie that sets off the blue of his eyes. The same eyes that keep giving me knowing looks. I know he is teasing me for being so circumspect, and it makes me want to laugh. When I see a couple of lawyers from our firm step up to the elevator bank, I give James a warning look before pointedly ignoring him. When the elevator arrives, we crowd on, mumbling greetings to our work colleagues. James, of course, ends up crowded up right next to me, and I hope that he won’t try anything. I watch nervously as we ascend, stopping on various floors to let people out. As the throng of people on the elevator thins out, I am relieved when James gives me some space. I feel my phone vibrating with an incoming text. Taking it out of my bag, I see it is from him.
You look hot in that dress. Fantastic legs, baby.
I look over at him as the elevator arrives on our floor to see him smirking, and he gives me a wink. Rolling my eyes, I step off the elevator, but can feel his eyes boring into me all the way to my office. Smiling to myself, I can’t help putting a little extra swing into my step.
I boot up my computer and check my e-mails and calendar before heading off to the kitchenette for some coffee. My mind wanders dreamily back to James making me a bagel and coffee for breakfast. Getting ready for work together had seemed so natural, as if it were a routine we shared every morning. I almost stop in my tracks when I realize how many of my thoughts revolve around James and how giddy I am feeling. This is quickly leading to obsession, and I am going to get hurt if I am not careful. I remind myself that I want to take things slowly, but wonder if it isn’t already too late.
When I reach the kitchenette, I gather that I have just missed James, because G-man is the hot topic of conversation. This should prove interesting, I think dismally. Becca is there as usual. Doesn’t she ever have any work to do? She is talking to Nora and another of the junior associates, who, even in flats, towers over me. I try to recall her name. I think it is one of those double names like Mary Ann or Mary Beth.
They return my greeting as I choose my coffee flavor and pop it into the Keurig machine.
“He definitely smiled at you, Becca.” I hear the tall junior’s comment over the hiss of coffee pouring into my cup.
“He should have been a model,” Nora interjects. “He would have made a fortune with that body and face.”
Becca pipes in, “I think that is the first time I have seen him smile like that. Did you see his dimple?”
I imagine I hear them sighing in unison as I pick up my coffee and make a hasty retreat. Before I have gone far, Nora catches up with me. “Hi Lainey, everything okay?”
“Yea, everything’s fine... Why wouldn’t it be?”
Giving me a sidelong glance, Nora says, “You seem kind of quiet.”
“Just not a morning person, I guess. By the way, who was that with you and Becca just now?”
“Oh, that was Bethany. She just moved up to this floor to take over some of Maria’s work for Boyd.”
Okay, not a double name after all. “I guess she will be working with Becca a lot then… I wonder what happened with Maria?”
“I know. That was really strange.” Nora stops at her desk. “Do you want to go to lunch today?”
I give Nora a smile. “I would love to, thanks.”
By the time I get back to my office, I have an e-mail from Andrew Mills summoning me to his office. When I arrive, he tells me he has been giving the Rothschild team some consideration and wants to go over it with me. “I want to set a lunch for later this week to introduce Rothschild to the team. I have already spoken to Duffy, and you can send those files over to her, by the way. I think McAllister would be a good fit too, but I want to talk to you about that.”
My heart skips a beat at the mention of James’s name. Working with James on my team? I am not sure how I feel about that. Mills eyes me speculatively before continuing, “McAllister has quite a reputation with the ladies. To be quite frank, we don’t like teaming him up with the junior associates who are women. They tend to develop crushes on him. I know it sounds juvenile, but I have seen it myself.” He holds up a hand as if he expects me to interrupt. “I know you are an extremely sensible young woman with your head screwed on straight, but it has happened more than once in the past. As awkward as it is, I feel it is my responsibility to warn you.” My blood runs cold at his words, and my hands turn to ice. I must look a little pale, because Mills smiles kindly as if to reassure me. “It’s best not to get your hopes up where McAllister is concerned anyway. I have never seen him show any interest in any
one from this office.”
In other words, there have been plenty of beautiful women going through the doors of Houghton Mills, so why would James deign to single me out. I wonder if I am going to be sick all over Mills’s desk. Somehow I make it through the rest of the meeting, which is thankfully short. Mills throws out some more names to me, and I just nod my head in agreement. His assistant will set up a team meeting for tomorrow. At the meeting all Rothschild business will be presented and tasks delegated. It is my responsibility to present all the business, so I hurry back to my office to start preparing. I am resigned to a very long day.
Despite the large task hanging over my head, I replay my conversation with Mills in my mind. I find myself pulling out my phone to text James… what? I detest feeling this insecure, but I long for reassurance. Resolutely, I put my phone down again and get back to the task at hand. I refuse to be that needy girl.
Nora and Patti stop by to go to lunch. When I tell them I am swamped, they offer to bring me back something. I gratefully accept. The afternoon speeds by, and I still have not finished my presentation. I have few interruptions, for which I am thankful. At about 8 p.m., James appears in my doorway. He comes in and closes the door behind him before asking, “What are you still doing here?”
I let out an exhausted sigh. “I am stuck here until I get the Rothschild presentation finished.” Resisting the urge to look at James, I force my gaze back to my computer screen. Out of the corner of my eye, I see James walk forward and sit down in the chair facing my desk.
“Are you planning on taking a break for dinner?”
I give a little shrug.
“Why am I getting the distinct feeling that my presence is not desired?”
I look down at my hands, which are resting on my keyboard. “I’ve just had a shitty day.” Finally, raising my eyes to meet his, I continue, “Forget about it. I’ll get over it.” Horrified, I realize that the tight knot in my chest that has been growing there all day is getting worse. I feel like I’m about to burst into tears. I must get rid of James. “If you don’t mind, I need to get back to work.” Panic rises in me when he makes no move to stand and go. “James, I need you to leave… now.” Dammit, why did my voice have to wobble? I close my eyes in rising despair. Then I hear James shift. He’s going to leave. I squeeze my eyes shut in relief. Anticipating the moment when I will be left alone to wallow in self-pity, I listen for the sound of his retreating footsteps. My eyes pop open and my breath hitches when I realize that, instead of moving away and towards the door, he is coming closer. “Stand up,” he commands, coming to a stop next to me. Wordlessly, I do as he says. James sits down in my chair and pulls me back down onto his lap.
I immediately try to wiggle off. “What if someone comes in?”
“I locked the door. Besides, I doubt there is anyone still here at this hour,” he says, glancing down at his watch. “Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Is it that obvious?”
James shrugs, “To me it is.”
I look at his bright, blue tie. “I met with Mills today... about the Rothschild team.” Emotion clogs my throat, and I clench my lips together to keep from breaking down.
James’s eyebrows arch in bewilderment. Then he guesses. “You’re upset that he wants me on the team?”
“Yes… no… that’s not it.” I cover my face with both of my hands. After a slight pause, I feel James nuzzle my neck. Then he whispers in my ear. “Lainey, baby, you have to tell me what’s wrong.” His tenderness is my undoing, and despite pressing my hands hard against my eyes to hold back my tears, they trickle down my face anyway. I sniffle, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just being silly.”
James rubs his hand up and down my back, and after a few minutes I feel better. I lean over and pull a tissue out of my desk drawer and blow my nose. I think I just needed to get it out of my system. “I’m okay now, thanks.”
The hand moving on my back stills. “Lainey, you still haven’t told me what has you so upset.”
“It was nothing, really. It’s just been a long day.” I gesture to my computer. “I am not even close to finishing this presentation, and I will be presenting it tomorrow.”
James gazes at me a few moments, trying to gauge the truth of what I said. Then he nods in the direction of my monitor. “Show me what you’ve got.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to help me. You must be tired and ready to go home.”
He looks at me with exasperation. “Lainey, are you going to show me or not, because I am not going to go home and leave you here alone.”
I can see that he means what he says. I lean over and move my mouse so that the computer screen returns to life. Over the next hour, I show James what I have done. He suggests a few ways that I should be taking shortcuts, which allows me to wrap up the presentation. In the morning I will have to review the slides, but with his help I will not be spending the night in the office after all.
CHAPTER 8
James hustles me out to his waiting car. It smells like cheese, garlic and tomato sauce, and I realize that I am starving. James gives me a knowing smile. “I had Gary pick up some lasagna from Luigi’s. We can eat at your place.”
I had never heard of Luigi’s, but from the aroma wafting from the front seat, I was sure it would be delicious. “You’re a prince,” I say kissing him on his cheek.
“You can do better than that.” He pulls me across the seat so that once again I am sitting on his lap. This time I am not thinking about crying or presentations. When his lips meet mine, I feel like I have come home and kiss him with wild abandon. He draws back slightly and smiles, “Now, that’s what I’m talking about.” He swoops his mouth down on mine once again. I am lost to everything until the car stops in front of my apartment building.
Realizing that I should have sent Sam a text that I am bringing home company, I ask James to wait in the hall before going in to warn her. She is excited to finally meet James and helps him set out the lasagna while I change into yoga pants and a t-shirt. When I return to the kitchen, James has taken off his jacket and tie and is looking relaxed chatting with Sam. Since Sam had only had a protein drink for dinner, she agrees to join us for some late night lasagna. James has ordered enough for an army. In addition to the lasagna, he has also ordered salad and garlic bread. Sam and I contribute a bottle of red wine which we finish off with the meal. Neither Sam nor I had ever eaten at Luigi’s, but we both agree that the lasagna is destined to become one of our favorites.
I sit back and watch as Sam tries to tease information out of James. He answers her questions patiently, but after a while, he looks down at his watch and then over to me. “So do I get to see where Lainey Hart rests her weary head at night?”
Shrugging, I stand up and take his hand pulling him toward my bedroom. “This is it.” I say throwing out my arm to indicate the shoebox that serves as my bedroom. There is only enough room for a double bed and a dresser. The closet is also small, but since Sam took the bigger bedroom, I use the closet in the hall across from the bathroom too.
“Nice.”
“If you say so.” It is nothing like his apartment, but for two students living in Manhattan, it’s not bad. It is a pre-war building so it has high ceilings and nice hardwood floors. It also has radiators that clank and hiss loudly in the winter, as well as window air conditioners that are loud and drip condensation on top of your head if you walk under them outside in the summer. There is also a lot of traffic noise from outside, but with the windows closed and the air conditioning running, it really isn’t too bad. I notice that James is inspecting the photographs I have stuck in the mirror above my dresser. I quickly scan them and am relieved to see there is only one of Mark. It was taken with a big group of us last spring after we had already broken up. James seems to be more interested in a picture of me at my undergraduate graduation anyway. I am standing in my cap and gown between my two older brothers. I hope he is not stressing about Jett.
He turns back to me. I cannot read the expression on his face, but I feel a frisson of unease. I watch as he starts unbuttoning his shirt.
“You’re staying?” I ask stupidly.
Never taking his eyes from my face, he finishes taking off his shirt and moves his hands to the fastening of his suit pants. “I’m staying.”
I take in the expanse of his firm bronzed muscle. My stomach tightens and my fingers twitch with the desire to run my hands down his chest. Standing in front of me in boxer briefs, he extends his arm to me. At his invitation I close the distance between us. His hands move up to cradle my face, and he strokes my cheeks with both of his thumbs. “My sweet, sweet girl.” Moving his hands through my hair, he tilts my head back and kisses me swirling his tongue around mine in a primitive dance. His hard erection presses against me, and I squirm. He backs me towards the bed, and when the back of my knees touch the mattress, he pushes me down. Bending down he pulls off my yoga pants and panties and whips my t-shirt over my head. “No bra?”
I shake my head as I reach up and pull his boxer briefs down. Seeing his hard erection sends a new rush of desire coursing through me. I can’t resist taking his hard cock in my hand and squeezing lightly. When I hear his gasp of pleasure, I bend my head down and run my tongue up his shaft and around the tip. “You have a beautiful cock,” I whisper before taking him into my mouth. I suck and lick and suck some more, and he moans, urging me on. “Fuck…yes, just like that baby.” Holding my head between his palms he guides me. “Lainey, you have to stop… I’m going to come.” I redouble my efforts at his words wanting it to be me that makes him loose control. I hear his low guttural groan. Then I feel his cum hitting the back of my throat, and I struggle to swallow it down.
We lie back on the bed, and his hand drifts over my sensitized body. “I didn’t mean for that to happen, but I can’t say that I am sorry.”
My body thrums in anticipation waiting to see what he will do next. His hand moves to my quivering sex, and he gently presses making me arch up. Easing a finger inside of me, he groans, “You are so wet.” I whimper as he deftly moves his hand back and forth inside me. Bending over me, he takes my nipple into his mouth and bites and sucks until I am sure I am going to come, but then he stops.
