by Jessica Loft
“My assistant will be here soon. She’s great. She is a big help and I told her to help you out until we can hire you an assistant for yourself.” Damon gushed.
“I don’t think I need an assistant.” Jessie said determinedly.
“I don’t think I do either, but it helps, believe me. Plus, it can’t hurt to have someone grab your lunch and help do your filing and such.”
She sat back and considered what he saying. He was right of course. Having an assistant to help with scheduling, correspondence, emails, copying and monotonous tasks of that nature, would cut her time down a lot. “You know I think you’re right. I just might be able to use an assistant. I also found someone that can help with the party. She is a friend of mine that lives close by. She does a lot of these types of parties and has helped with our Christmas parties the last few years.”
“So she’s good?”
“Yes. And she’ll take care of everything. We won’t need to do any of it.”
“That sounds great.” Damon agreed. They both turned towards the elevator when they heard the ding. Jessie sighed when she saw the familiar face of the petite blonde from the other day step off the elevator head their way.
Jessie watched intrigued as the young woman beamed a big smile for Sinclair. That bright light dimmed as soon as she noticed Jessie’s presence, her smile not quite as genuine.
“Jessie, I would like you to meet my assistant Becca. Becca this is Jessie, the other CEO.”
“Oh, so it’s her job that you’ll be taking over?” She said sweetly, giving Jessie a look filled with sympathy.
“No, not at all. Actually we’ll be running the company together.” Sinclair’s voice and words made their way to Jessie’s ears and she felt herself smiling at the blonde.
“That’s me…I am Jessie. The other person who runs the company. You know, your bosses equal.” Although she said it nicely, she kept an undertone of warning in her voice for the younger woman.
“Well, I have some stuff to go over and I have a few errands for you to do for me if you don’t mind, Becca,” Damon said smiling at both women.
“I would love to help you, Damon,” Becca said, turning her back to Jessie. He whispered a goodbye to Jessie before walking away towards his office. Becca trailing behind him.
Jessie turned back to her computer with a scowl and hurriedly began to write a job posting for her own assistant. Having someone to help with the little things might help her a lot more than she thought, but trusting Becca with anything, she knew, would not be in her best interest. She also sent a quick email to Sarah asking her to begin the arrangements for the party.
The next couple days went by quickly, each of them working individually to convert their clients and sending out various correspondences regarding the merger. She started getting responses the next day. When responses began rolling in, the reviews were mixed. Some clients were worried, while others were extremely happy with the idea. They all were unified in that they wanted to ensure that she would still be there and that no substantive changes would be made. Jessie was happy inform them that she would indeed still be there and would continue as one of the two CEO’s of the new company.
~
The day of the party quickly arrived. Although Jessie didn’t normally care, she was glad it was planned for a Saturday so she would have more time to get ready. Jessie usually wore pants to work, though recently she found herself choosing skirts more and more. Tonight, however, she wanted to step it up a notch, so she chose a dress. She reasoned that she just wanted to look nice, but deep down she knew it had more to do with the fact that Damon Sinclair would be there.
The last few days, he had kept his distance, but there were occasional moments when she would look up from her work to see him standing in her doorway, staring at her, waiting to ask her a question. They always rode in the elevator together at the end of the day, and she looked forward to him walking her to her car before telling her goodnight. There was something about him… she couldn’t get him off her mind. Even when she was at home alone, she would think of him and her dreams…her dreams were even worse.
Her dark hair flowed down her back in large loose curls, she had applied more makeup than she normally wore, and with precise care. Her dress was dark blue and made her eyes seem even brighter. It had a halter top and a cut designed to emphasize her small waist. She wore a pair of black stilettos that set off her toned legs, visible beneath the tea-length party dress. She stood there a moment longer admiring a job well done. She knew she looked good, and felt good about it. Smiling, she picked up her small clutch and made her way out the door and on to the party.
They had decided to have the party at a local hotel that offered a huge and beautiful banquet room perfect for their event. She was grateful to hear that Damon encouraged all their clients to be invited, from executives to mail clerks and everyone in between. Tonight there were no ranks, just people from the same company, enjoying an evening together celebrating two successful companies merging into one.
She straightened her shoulders and walked into the room; happy to find it hopping and full of people already. She walked further into the room, making her way toward the long table loaded down with beautifully displayed food. Feeling a gaze on her, she turned looking straight into a pair of striking blue eyes...dark and intimidating. The both stared at each other mesmerized for a moment before Damon began moving forward, making his way towards her. His dark hair curled on his neck, his black suit sharp and crisp. She had to admit that he looked…amazing.
“You look ravishing tonight.” He smiled taking her hand.
“You don’t look too bad yourself.” Jessie looked down. The way he was looking at her made her feel nervous. She felt her insides melt as his eyes traveled the length of her body down and back up to her eyes. “Come. Let’s dance, shall we?”
“Oh, I don’t think…” she began talking, couldn’t get the words out of her mouth as he pulled her to the dance floor and swung her towards him. She looked straight forward at his chest and slowly sucked in a breath as his arm made its way around her waist. His hand opened up to grasp around her middle and pull her flush against him. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise at his forcefulness. She felt his other hand slowly slide into hers. Jessie stood there shocked. Damon began to lead her through a dance, holding her tight against his chest, staring into her eyes. An hour later, Jessie was beginning to feel tired. She didn’t know how many songs they had danced to, but she felt happy and content in a daze dancing with Damon.
“I need a drink,” she whispered breathlessly with a smile. He returned it with one of his own. Her heart melted, she didn’t know what it was, but she couldn’t stay mad at him. Maybe it was his gorgeous smile, or the dancing that she had enjoyed so much. Whatever it was, she couldn’t put her finger on it, but something was different. She felt herself relaxing for the first time in weeks.
“Come on, let’s go get something to drink and eat.” Damon gestured towards the buffet table.
“Okay.”
Chapter 5
Time seemed to slip away as she mingled and enjoyed the company of all the people from their company. One by one she spoke with them about this and that and made sure to show her appreciation for their hard work. She was pleasantly surprised to meet some people that would be merging over with them. Jessie was surprised to see that Damon’s boss still had not shown up by the middle of the party, and was even more surprised when Damon took the initiative to do the speech.
Jessie was having such a great time that before she knew it was after midnight and later than she had intended to head home. She stood up to say her goodbyes and almost tripped on her own feet. Laughing at herself, she realized that she might need to wait for a cab. She was in no shape to drive herself home. Taking another step she swerved, but before she fell an arm slid around her waist, steadying her.
“I think you may have had a little too much fun.”
She looked up with a goofy smile to the same blue e
yes that were haunting her. “Yeah. I liked the bubbly a little too much,” she giggled. “I am actually giggling. Crud, I am acting like the dumb women I roll my eyes at.”
“Your hammered, come on. Let’s get you home.” Damon replied.
“I’m going to call a cab.”
“No, you’re not. Where do you live? Is the address on your license?” Before he could get an answer she began walking away towards the front of the room. Nodding his head at Becca on the way out, he followed close behind her. The last thing he needed was her falling and knocking herself out.
Knowing where her car was he intercepted her and stopped her at the door. He quickly took the keys back from her and asked her again for her address.
“Give me my keys.” Jessie yelled trying to grab for her keys.
“No. I will take you home.” Damon explained putting the keys behind his back.
“No you are not. I am calling the cab. I can do things for myself!” But before she could say anything else everything went black. Quick on his feet, Damon caught her on the way down and lifted her into his arms. She was always so difficult. He carried her to his hotel room, and laid her in his bed.
~
Jessie slowly opened her eyes to look around. Her hands came up to rub at her eyes as she tried to focus once more. Her surroundings were unknown to her. The huge bed she was currently sleeping in was not her own. It was nice and comfortable, yes, but it wasn’t hers. She began to rise when she realized she was naked under the sheets.
“Well, good morning sunshine. I see that you are finally up. Here, take this,” Damon said coming into the room, holding out a glass of orange juice and two small white pills. The look she gave him clearly stated she didn’t trust him. “Oh please, if I wanted to hurt you, you would already be hurt. Take the Tylenol, it will help with the headache.”
She shook her head, no, but with the sudden movement came a crushing pain in her temple which caused her to moan lightly. She sighed, realizing that he was right, her head did hurt.
“You seemed to enjoy the, what did you call it, oh yeah, the bubbly, a little too much last night.”
“Where are we?”
“In my room.”
“Oh. You brought me here and…”
He chuckled “I put you to bed.”
“I see,” she said, as she gripped the edge of the sheet closer to her chest. “And?” She waited for him to continue. There was no way that nothing happened if she was naked and he was wearing nothing but a pair of jogging shorts.
“And nothing. I put you to bed.”
“That’s all. We didn’t…” she looked away, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
“Honey, if we did, I guarantee, you would remember it,” he laughed.
“Sure.” Jessie said looking down.
“When we do have sex, I will personally make sure you are awake and able to remember everything. I promise.”
“That will never happen.” Jessie responded quickly.
“You can believe that all you want. Come on. I am making breakfast.”
She was about to rise when she remembered that she wasn’t wearing anything.
“You spilled some bubbly on your dress, so I sent it off to get dry cleaned. You can use one of my shirts in the closet there, until I have some clothes brought up for you.”
“Here.” He said throwing her one of his nicer college t-shirts.
“Oh, thank you.” she whispered feeling even more embarrassed. She waited until he left the room again before pulling the shirt over her head. It fell just to the top of her thighs and smelled like him. She made her way to where she assumed the kitchen would be. As she stepped through the doorframe her the smell of bacon and eggs wafted towards her. “Wow. That smells delicious.” Her stomach growled loudly as she walked to the island.
“Come sit,” he invited, inclining his head towards the bar in front of him where a plate already sat with eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns. Beside it was the orange juice and a cup of coffee. She didn’t say another word as she slowly began to eat. The only thing she heard was her own moan of enjoyment. “Does that mean it meets your standards?” Damon chuckled.
“Yes. It tastes like best food I’ve ever eaten.”
“Good.”
When her stomach was full she sat back in her chair and sighed contentedly before standing and taking her dishes to the sink. She could feel him come up behind her.
Chapter 6
“Listen, I think some people saw us leave together last night.”
“That doesn’t bother me,” she said matter-of-factly. She looked at him as his eyebrows rose slowly.
“So you don’t mind if people think we’re sleeping together?”
“No. Because I will simply let them know that will never happen.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” She said defiantly.
“It could have last night.”
“And did it?” She asked.
“No.”
“Then why didn’t I have any clothes on?”
“I thought you would be more comfortable.”
“So you undressed me?” Her heart began to hammer in her chest at the thought of him undressing her. If she was honest with herself, she would admit that it was because she was excited about the possibility.
“I did. Then I put you to bed. Next time you will not get off so easily.”
“There won’t be a next time.” She huffed and crossed her arms.
“Yes, there will. And you’ll enjoy it.”
“There will not, and I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I don’t want anything like that from you. Don’t you have enough women already?”
“I don’t have women. I have friends, and we both know that this will not be the last time we are together and naked.”
“I don’t want you.” She said.
“Yes you do and I’ll prove it to you.” Damon replied.
“How?”
“Like this.” Before she knew what he was doing, he stepped closer and pressed her up against the sink. The sink was hard and cold against her back, his hand was warm as it slowly traveled up her arm. He cupped the side of her face before his hand wrapped itself in her hair and brought her head back. He lowered his head to brush his lips against hers.
She gasped at the first contact of his lips. It was brief and just a whisper of a feeling before she felt the tip of his tongue trace the outline. His tongue gently worked its way into her mouth making her powerless to fight it even if she wanted to. Her mind was clouded with the feeling of arousal, pure and simple. His lips covered hers as he pressed himself harder against her. She felt his equal excitement through the thin shorts he wore. She moaned in pleasure as his other arm wrapped itself around her waist and traveled down her hip to her thigh. Her arms wrapped around both his biceps. She didn’t know if she was pushing him away or pulling him closer but the thought left her mind as he gripped her ass and picked her up to place her on the counter. “We shouldn’t,” she said, her voice a mere whisper. She gasped again as his lips made their way down her throat and over her shoulder.
“Why not? I want it. You want it. Don’t fight it…just let go. If only for this one time and this moment. Let go.”
She looked into his eyes, her body screaming for him, and knew there was no way she could fight it. She wanted, no she needed him. Here and now. “I—yes.” It was all she got out before he picked her back up and started for the bedroom. Jessie embraced the moment and wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him closer to her. She ground herself against him, sucking his earlobe into her mouth, causing him to groan in need.
They finally made it to the bedroom and fell onto the bed together. She looked up at him with a grin as she came up to her knees. She knew she had a good body and she gripped the bottom of the shirt in her hands tightly. Slowly she pulled it upward and off, throwing it across the room. She smiled at him again, watching as his fingers slipped under the waistband of his shorts. Hooking t
wo fingers on each side, he lowered them to the floor. Her eyes dropped to the part of his anatomy that had her breathing so hard. It was almost hard and huge, standing at attention for her. Her bottom lip sucked into her mouth as she looked up with a grin. He slowly crawled towards her, looking like a lion about to pounce on his prey. She knew at this moment, she was his prey, and was happy to oblige.
She fell to her back open to him. A small squeak escaped her lips as his hands wrapped around her ankles and pulled her closer. He leaned forward and his lips met hers again. She forgot everything else but the feel of him kissing her. He trailed kisses down her neck until he got to her perky breasts. Massaging them with his right hand, he grasped a nipple between his teeth. He tugged gently causing her to moan loudly, as he continued his journey down her body. She felt sparks course through her body at the continued contact. She was burning up, yet there were goosebumps all over her body. She felt his hand slide down the side of her body settling between her legs. He gently pushed a finger against her clit causing her body to jerk before he slid it farther south.
“I have thought of little more than this since the day I met you. I have wanted you so bad since then. I wanted to feel you in my arms.” He whispered.
“Yes.” It was all she could manage. There was more she wanted to say, more words and thoughts tumbling in her mind, but her mouth couldn’t form the sounds. She couldn’t speak. It was as if she was speechless or had suddenly become mute. She kept trying to respond with something profound when she felt him sink a finger deep inside her. Her words turned into a groan as he began sliding his finger in and out, eventually adding another finger to the rhythm. It wasn’t long before she was rising from the bed. Her hips meeting each thrust as she searched for more. She craved more. She wanted him to be completely inside her as she tried to close the gap of space between them. She whimpered when he removed his hands. But watched with excitement as he positioned his body between her legs. She felt him his hardness at her entrance and she rose to her elbows to look up at him. He hesitated, gently bumping against her, then pulling away. Teasing. Finally, he pushed himself into her. She felt her walls expand to take him in. He stretched her wide with his girth and she closed her eyes as her head fell back with the feeling. Her moan was long and deep as he began to move inside her, his breathing already labored.
