Two Hard

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Two Hard Page 54

by Amy Brent


  “What the hell were you thinking Dahlia?”

  The evidence of what had happened was gone now, he had returned the room back to its former appearance once more and was sitting behind the desk, waiting. She knew whatever he was going to say next would likely hurt her feelings somehow so she decided to take the power away from him.

  “That was nice Landon, really. I had a bad day and it is obvious that you did too. We both needed some relief so please, don’t worry, I think it was anything else. As a matter of fact, I want to thank you for helping me feel little better.” She glanced at her watch. “I really have to get going. I will see you on Monday.” She gave him a half smile as she left the room and down to her car before he could say anything at all.

  Landon

  She had been gone an hour and yet she was still on his mind. He was always in control, but never with her. He watched her leave, knowing she was afraid of what he would say. Part of him wanted to stop her, to tell her things about him he never shared with anyone, but the part that kept it all buried was there and he let it win over.

  He had never felt anything like he had with her. Her body had given as much as it took and he wanted to please her, not just himself. He remembered even now how tight and perfect she had been as he moved inside her, and how beautiful she had looked laying there for him. Somewhere along the way he had let her get under his skin and he would have to keep her at arm’s length.

  Monday, she would be back and he would tell her that somehow. He knew she was a beautiful woman, and she was a good person deep down. He would do nothing but hurt her and he couldn’t let that happen. They would go back to where they had been, and he would answer her questions like he always did. Then, when this story was over he would likely never see her again.

  Even that hurt him, he wanted to make sure this story was a good one for her, she deserved it especially now. He had no right to touch her, but she had been so willing, and she had moved him in more ways than once. He frowned as he heard the buzzer and he knew before the door opened who it would be.

  “Hello mother.”

  “Oh no you don’t mister. I want to know what you did to Dahlia.” She crossed her arms and looked down on him.

  “Leave it alone mother, I didn’t do anything.”

  “Oh really? It’s funny because I spoke to her earlier. We had plans to meet for dinner and she cancelled them on me. I knew just in the tone of her voice it was something that happened with you so you may as well tell me.” She tossed her gloves down on the chair across from him and sat in the other.

  He exhaled sharply. “It’s between she and I mother just leave it alone, please.”

  She tapped her foot and then she figured it out. “Really Landon, she’s not even your type and yet you felt the need to make her another conquest? She is a good woman and she deserves better.”

  “I know she is a good woman mother, and you don’t even know what my type is anyway. Certainly not that dribble you read in the paper.” He said it all calmly. “I don’t even know how it happened, it just did.” He put his face in his hands.

  “Hmm.”

  When she didn’t say anything else he looked over at her. “I know you want to say something mother.”

  “On the contrary, I have all the information I need sweetheart.” She stood, grabbing her stuff and she leaned down to kiss him on his forehead quickly. “Don’t beat yourself up too much son things have a way of working themselves out.” She moved towards the door before she stopped. “Did you talk to her about Jackson yet?”

  “No, I don’t plan to.”

  “It would help you know, to get it off of you. You may feel better if you do.” She smiled at him. “I love you Landon.”

  “I love you too mother.” He waited until she left to pour himself a much needed drink

  Dahlia

  She didn’t even like ice cream. Yet she glanced around the room at the mess she’d made over the weekend. She was torn between reliving the beauty of what she’d done, and trying to forget about it altogether. No journalist in their career should ever break the main rule, and she had.

  “Never sleep with a story.” She said it aloud to the room.

  She had worked so hard to get to this place and yet she had thrown it out the window. No doubt when she went to see him Monday things would be different, and he would be a total ass to her or worse, he would be sweet and nice. Either way the sex she so desperately wanted to both relive and forget, would change the dynamic of their relationship.

  She tried to shift the blame, who in their right mind would say no to Landon Meyers. His body was sculpted and he was more than just an average man. He said he wanted her and like a stupid little big girl she had not only said yes, she had eagerly helped it happen. She rolled over in her bed, she just needed to sleep and face it tomorrow.

  Tomorrow, came earlier than she had expected. She showered and slid into a bright blue sundress, leaving her hair loose and flowing. She was facing the elevator to his office, taking deep breaths and plastering a smile on her face as the doors opened and she greeted his receptionist with a smile.

  “He’s waiting for you Miss Dahlia.”

  “Thanks.” She gave her a smile as she went to his door, breathing in as she pushed it open.

  He was looking out of the window again, something she knew he enjoyed and she dropped her things in the chair as he turned to look at her. She felt his eyes look her over, and something of an exhale as he faced the city once more.

  “Did you have a good weekend?” He asked her carefully.

  “Yes the usual, parties and drinking.” She waited for his look before she added. “I’m joking, obviously. How about you?”

  He crossed his arms. “You know the usual, debutants and fine dining.” He gave her a half smile.

  The stress left her body, and they both seemed to relax as she started asking him about his future and what he wanted. Before long they were back in another debate.

  “How can you not see that it’s like taking something from these people?”

  “I don’t see it that way at all, in fact I’m creating new businesses they can enjoy.” He shrugged as if it made perfect sense.

  “Ok, so if some big corporation came and took this place, obliterated it until it was as if it never existed, planning some ice cream shop in its place you wouldn’t feel anything about that?”

  He paused, leaning back in his chair. “That could never happen…”

  She stopped him. “In a world where it could. Just try and put yourself in their place is all I’m saying.” She rounded his desk, sitting back into her chair.

  “You are especially beautiful when you get so animated about things.” He said it, his voice sounding like velvet.

  “It’s not funny, Landon.” She jerkily moved her things, putting them in order.

  “What’s not funny?”

  “It happened, let’s just leave it at that. You don’t have to say things like that to me.”

  He frowned. “Say things like what? That you're beautiful… well you are. I say them because I feel like it.”

  “Ok Meyers.” She continued to pack her things.

  “You don’t believe me.” He moved towards her.

  “I am not going to go that far; I think you mean well but...” She paused.

  “But what Dahlia?” He stood in front of her, looking down at her as she packed.

  “I’m just saying Livingston, she’s beautiful. I’m more.” She paused. “Quirky.”

  “No.”

  She spun around to face him. “What do you mean no, I didn’t even ask you a question.”

  “Livingston is a cold, dark, cruel person.” He paused to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. “Even on her best day she couldn’t dream up the kind of beautiful that you are Dahlia.”

  She felt the air shift and she leaned into him slightly, before she caught herself. “We can’t do this Meyers….” She felt him move his hand to the top of her hip. His mouth moving closer and
closer to her own.

  “I know.” He whispered it before his mouth found hers once more, crushing her to him. He found himself caught up in the heat of the moment before the ringing of his phone, springing them apart.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow Meyers.” She grabbed her bag and made her way out of the room and into her car where she was safe.

  Landon

  It was simply out of his hands. He watched her go, knowing there was nothing he could do about it right now.

  He glanced at his phone picking it up just as it rang.

  “Hello Rebecca.”

  “Oh Landon don’t sound so irritated. We have the gala in three weeks, I just wanted to remind you.”

  “I know.”

  “Good, pity you’re not up for some fun anymore Landon.”

  “I am just tired of the game Rebecca, goodnight.” He hung up and swore to himself.

  The gala was an event that local companies participated yearly to raise money and he had yet to jump into the pool of people who helped fund it. If anything he was always a date on the arm of one person or another. He had given his word that he would take Rebecca, and so he would. He sat, lost in thought over the day he’d had with Dahlia, and everything she said. Maybe it was time for a change after all. He made a quick call and waited.

  Twenty minutes later he welcomed Braden into the room. He had been a loyal employee for over 6 years, and Landon knew he would know just about everything he needed to find out to put the plan he had been formulating into action. They spent the next couple of hours going over everything that needed to be addressed and for the first time in his life Landon left the meeting feeling less stress than before. He was different somehow, different because of her.

  She didn’t even know how beautiful she was, but yet she carried herself with such confidence it came as a surprise even to him. Maybe she needed a little more convincing. He grabbed his jacket and left the building. Something in him knew he was doing something crazy, but he smiled to himself as he moved his car out and into the evening air.

  Finding her apartment building had been easy. On more than one occasion she had talked about being able to see it from his windows, and how nice it was to have the lake nearby. She had commented on being on the third floor being both a blessing and a curse. He found the building and made his way up the stairs until he was faced with four doors. He quickly eliminated two of them. There was a mat outside one that had a giant cat on it, smoke was reeking out of the other. That left him with two. Facing them, he noticed that one of them faced the city, and the other faced the trees. She loved looking at it enough didn’t she? He shrugged and knocked on the door.

  She swung it open, the music pouring out into the hall. She froze in her tracks and he watched her scramble to regain her composure.

  “Landon, what are you doing here?” She glanced behind him, and did her best to cover up herself.

  “Nice outfit.” He couldn’t help it. She was clearly uncomfortable in her spandex attire, and she looked as though she had been working out. The best part was her top, which did its very best to contain all of her assets, poorly.

  “Shut up, come in.” She turned on her heel and walked into her apartment. She was neat and tidy, nothing that surprised him at all. “Help yourself to a drink. I’m going to change I’ll be back in a sec.”

  He watched her go, for the first time he was unsure why he was really here. He knew he wanted to talk about Jackson, something he had never done before, but he also wanted to be near her. Moments later she came back out in a simple sundress. Her hair was a wild mess of fire flowing down her shoulders.

  She moved into the kitchen across from him. “Ok Landon, spill it.” She didn’t glance at him as she poured herself some water.

  He let his gaze travel up the length of her, resting only a moment before he moved to stand behind her. He felt her stiffen up as he moved his hand around her waist, pulling her back into him.

  “Landon… we can’t.” She whispered it, but he felt her body relax as he ran his finger down her arm, then moved her hair so that he could gently kiss her neck.

  “Why Dahlia, why can’t we?” He didn’t wait for her response, instead he pulled the dress down until it fell to the floor leaving her naked in front of him.

  He moved his hands up her hips and around to cup her breasts in each hand, loving the feel of the her as she leaned back into him even more. He pushed himself against her, knowing she could feel the hardness pressing into her there.

  She turned then, facing him and he crushed his mouth to hers, the fire that had begun burning suddenly engulfed them both as she pulled off his clothes as well. He moved then pulling her with him into her bedroom, and he smiled at her as he moved to lay on the bed.

  “Come to me Dahlia.” He demanded it, and he watched her resolve fade as she did as he asked. She carefully climbed the bed, crossing until she was on her knees beside him. “Ride me.”

  He knew she hesitated for a second, carefully taking in his words. “Now Dahlia.”

  She moved then, obeying his words and she put her knees on either side of him. He felt the hot tight heat of her as she slid down on the length of him. He hissed in pleasure as he filled her. She arched her back, her breasts jutting forward as he grabbed her hips in his hands pulling her even deeper onto him. It was almost too good feeling the weight of her on him. He moved her then, setting a rhythm that she soon found on her own. She rocked on him slowly at first, leaning back on her hands, he feasted his eyes on her as they swayed and rocked with the motion of her pace.

  Before long she shifted again, this time he moved her faster and faster, she leaned forward now, over him. The luscious globes in his face now as he feasted on first one and then the other as he thrust upwards and into her over and over again. He heard her moans as she crested that peak. Her body shuddering over his in ecstasy. She whispered his name and it was his undoing, and he found the same release in her.

  She rolled off of him, lying in the bed beside him, both lost in their own thoughts. She felt him shift as he rolled over to face her. She blushed as she looked up at him.

  “I can’t gather my clothes and run this time Landon, we are in my apartment.” She scrunched up her face and he felt his heart skip a beat.

  “I planned it that way.” He smiled at her running a finger over her chin. “I want you because you’re a sweet and beautiful woman Dahlia, don’t ever doubt that you're beautiful.”

  Her face turned red. “Did you come here to seduce me Mr. Meyers?”

  “No, in fact, I wasn’t sure what I was thinking as I drove here. I want to tell you something. Something about me, you can use for the story.”

  She sat up quickly, grabbing a notepad by the bed, suddenly in journalist mode. He looked at her there, wrapped in a sheet and he knew then he was done for. There would be time for that later, time to tell her how he felt about her. For now, he would tell her about Jackson.

  Dahlia

  Her body was aching in places that it hadn’t in a very long time. She smiled to herself before she even opened her eyes. He was gone, that much she knew. She had felt him leave much earlier in the morning than she was used to. She rolled over in the sheets, smelling his scent once more. I had been a long night, one that she had never imagined possible. Today she would tighten up the story and submit it Monday. By then it would be perfect.

  Understanding his life and about his brother Jackson made her understand his need to keep going. Jackson had been the playful one always running around with friends. He always struggled with drugs and fighting until his “fun” had gotten him killed in an accident. The biggest thing they shared was racing their bikes, but after Jackson had gotten so careless, he had stopped showing up to meet Landon at the track. Since then Landon had vowed to be strong and steady, for his mother’s sake, and he had given up racing. If he kept things going strong, they wouldn’t worry about accidents. His father had died when he was older, but Jackson had always been a memory he couldn’t seem
to shake. He had promised his father, he would watch over him, and he had failed. She would incorporate that into the story, somehow making him more human without giving the world all of his secrets.

  She sat up quickly setting about her normal routine. It was Friday, but for her it was a day to get all of her writing done, and run her errands so that she could relax for the weekend. It had been a chore to write his story and now everything she knew about him made perfect sense. She hadn’t expected to fall for him, that had been a bonus. But the truth was she wasn’t sure where they stood at all.

  It had been three weeks since they had made love the first time and now, things between them was almost effortless. He had been over regularly since his first surprise visit. Now they had a routine, though neither of them wanted to bring up status, or relationship. Everything was exactly as it should be, and for the first time in a long time she was content with where they were.

  Part of her was concerned that she was getting in too deep. He had made no commitment to her, but then she never broached the subject. She may just be a way to simply pass the time. One thing was certain, his mother had plenty to say about it. There was no doubt she would have much more to say when Dahlia told her the news. She was just wrapping up the article slipping it into the envelope for the office when she heard the knock on the door, knowing that she was right on time.

  “Dahlia, dear.” Judy came into the room in her usual flash of color. She hugged her tightly.

  “Hello Judy, I am so glad you called. I needed a break from here for a little while.”

  “I bet you do.” Judy gave her a knowing look. “Let’s go then.”

  They soon found themselves settled into a bistro on the corner. Chatting happily about the gala later that evening. Judy went over her dress, and the preparation involved.

  “Apparently Landon has something spectacular planned. Though he is being quiet about it.”

  She blinked twice. “Landon goes to the gala?”

 

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