“I can call Get Kaizen Events. They are our event planners, out of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The owner’s name is Lana Cooper. I can give her a call, but I feel bad it's Saturday.” She reached for her purse next to her on a stool.
This was the first time Callie had ever shared any information about how she planned things for the office with him. He knew last Christmas the company had a very elegant event. The food, decorations and entertainment were top-notch, but Callie had been close-lipped about any of the coordination. When he’d asked, she’d blown him off. He hoped this turn of events was a step in the right direction for them.
“I know it’s not ideal, but this is rather important. We could pay her above her asking fee if it gets her to work with us in the short time period. And, it won’t be as big of an event as say, the Christmas party or company picnic. I would think no more than ten people, right?”
Callie wiped remnants of chicken salad from her lips. “I mean, I can give her a call and see what she says. The worst she can say is, ‘yeah right, can you give me more than 48 hours to plan an event, crazy people?’”
Daniel chuckled at her as she searched for the number in her contact list and hit ‘call’.
“Hi, Lana. It's Callie Johnson from Harmon and Associates.” Callie looked up at Daniel as she spoke. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her if he tried. At this moment, she was concentrating on the call and he had the opportunity to concentrate on how stunning she was. He saw heat flash in her eyes from his inspection and her cheeks flushed as she looked away from him. “Um,” she cleared her throat. One shared glance must have distracted her. He liked that he had the ability since she distracted him with ease every day…
“I'm sorry to call you on a Saturday. I know it is outside your usual work schedule, but I have an emergency. I wanted to see if you could help me with it.”
He waited while she rattled the details to the event planner over the phone. The woman agreed to meet them for coffee early the next day to go over the details of the lunch for the board. She would not have a problem planning the small event for Monday afternoon which, in his opinion, made her a miracle worker. He expected Callie would only work with the best. That's how she was, a perfectionist. She’d been nothing short of amazing the whole first year they worked together. He sat back, watching her and admiring her professionalism and skill set. It was time to let her know what he thought.
She ended the call and reached for her wine glass. “Lana will meet us tomorrow morning for coffee. She said she has no problem with planning the lunch for us. It will be ‘simple’ or so she says.”
“Perfect,” he said, waiting only a beat to dive into what he really wanted to say to her. “You know, Callie, I'm glad you and I are able to work on this together. Not fighting with you over something work related is a welcomed change. I've... watched you work the last year and I’m very impressed by you.” He held a hand up in surrender when he saw the look of surprise register on her beautiful face. “I know I never said anything like that to you before. I’ve been… difficult to work with. I apologize for that. I heard everything you said about me and the working relationship with the people in the office and you were right. That is something I have to work on and I'm going to work on it. I promise you that. I just hope you will give me a chance. Not only at work, but… whatever this is going on between us. I want to work on that too, Callie.”
She stared at him across his kitchen island for longer than a beat. He didn't realize he was holding his breath, anticipating her response, until she spoke. “Okay... I'd like that. And, Daniel, I... feel the same way, too.”
Chapter 14
She barely had the words out of her mouth before he closed the distance between them sharing her personal space. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the look in his eyes. Want, need, desire swirled in the windows to his soul like a perfect storm. He cupped her face with his palm stroking her skin with the pad of this thumb. His voice was teetering somewhere beyond a whisper and a growl when he spoke. “If something more is what we both want, we should work on that now. What do you think?”
She smirked back at him as he pressed his middle into her thigh. She could feel the semi growing by the second behind his pants. “Don’t you think we’ve worked together quite well in that department, Daniel?” she asked, her tone wry. She flicked a glance down between them at his fly before looking back up into the dark pools of blue eyes.
“Yes, we certainly have, but practice makes perfect, kitten.” He breathed close to her ear, snaking a hand around her body, each word lulling her into a trance. He kissed at the side of her face and down her jaw. “I’ve been known to be a bit of a perfectionist.” He kissed her neck finding her growing pulse. He swirled the rapid beating with the tip of his tongue.
“Is that so?” she sighed.
“Oh, absolutely. I think if we work on perfecting how we are together, like this, we will work even better in business.”
“Mmm,” she purred, her eyes fluttering shut as he ran a hand over her knee, under her dress and up her thigh. He pressed her legs apart, turning her body to him on the swivel of the stool. “Well, I guess it’s worth a try. You know, when you put it like that. Anything for the good of the business,” she complied.
She heard the amusement in his voice as he spoke. “Yes, the business, kitten. That’s exactly what I’m about to give you right now.”
Her eyes fluttered open as his voice wasn’t as close now. She couldn’t feel the heat of his words near her face. He kneeled in front of her on his kitchen floor.
“What are you doing?” she gasped as he spread her knees again, leaning in between them.
“What I’ve wanted to do for the better part of the day.” He growled this time, the heat of his words against her inner thighs.
“Daniel...”
She tried to protest. The words were on the tip of her tongue but she always protested or argued with him sometimes just for the sake of being contrary. She didn’t have a good reason why they shouldn’t do this right now. Hell, she wanted this. She wanted him right where he was, face between her thighs, taking care of the need he caused. It wasn’t like this was their first time in a compromising position. She didn’t want it to be their last. With him being as controlling as he was, it most certainly wouldn’t be their last. Just the thought of him tongue-deep in her caused moisture to pool between her legs, mere inches from his face.
He instinctively ran his index and middle fingers right down that path, through her panties. “Are you going to tell me why we shouldn’t? It feels like you want me here, Callie.” He flicked a finger over her sensitive clit. The friction of his touch and the silk of her panties drove her wild. Her leg shuddered under the hold of his other hand. “Oh, kitten. I think you do want it. Don’t deny yourself, baby.”
She bit her lip looking down at him. There was no reason they shouldn’t. She wanted him and he knew it. Her soaked panties gave her away. They weren’t in the office right now. They were in his… kitchen, of all the damn places. His mouth was inline and ready. She only had to let go. “Tell me you want it. I want to hear you tell me exactly what you want, kitten.”
“Touch me, Daniel…” she whimpered.
“You want me to touch you? Like this, baby?” He swirled fingers around her sensitive bud and a new onset of moisture pooled in response.
“Yes, like that,” she gasped.
“I need better access, beautiful.” He leaned in and kissed the panel of her panties, and she nearly fell off the damn stool, but he still had a grip on her thigh and anchored her to the seat and his relentless mouth. She could feel the warmth of his words against her center through the material of her panties.
“Better access… to this…” He licked her. Fuck, he licked my clit through my panties. “Stand up, baby. I need you out of these.” He snagged a thin piece of the material of her panties with his teeth and pulled them away from her soaked center. The air hit her and she shivered again. “Stand up,” he co
mmanded and helped her stand over him as he remained on his knees. His hand slid up her thighs and her hips to the waist of her panties. He shimmied the offending scrap of material down in the same direction of her hips and thighs until they fell around her bare feet, near his knees on the floor. She tried to sit again, but he put his hands around the back of her thighs keeping her standing in front of him. “Lift your dress.”
“Daniel?” She looked down at him as he looked up at her.
“The dress, Callie. Lift it,” he said again, his tone no nonsense.
“You are so damn bossy,” she whimpered as she slid the material of the yellow A line up her knees and thighs.
“And, you are looking for every reason to go against what I’m saying right now. But, you like it when I’m like this,” he looked up at her as she complied with his instruction, “even when I’m bossy in the office. It turns you on, doesn’t it?”
“Maybe…” She continued sliding the dress up her body. As she revealed herself to him, he hitched her one knee up and over his shoulder allowing him perfect access.
Air escaped her mouth as she watched him. “What are you doing?” Her words a mere whisper as he held her in place against his mouth. He spoke directly into her heat. “Give up control just once, kitten. Let me take care of this for you.” He latched onto her in one relentless suck. He began licking her up as if this were his lunch and not the roast beef on rye that sat unfinished on the kitchen island. “Oh. God. Daniel. Shit.” She moaned in staccato, anchoring her hands to his shoulders and held on for dear life. She had no choice but to give up control when stars flashed behind her eyelids almost in an instant. She didn’t know what this man had in his mouth but it was somewhere on the verge of pure magic. Trying to hold onto her sanity was futile. There was just no way, not when he was circling her clit over and over again with his tongue. “Oh my… Fuck!” she cried, falling apart all around him. He held her tight, allowing her to ride the wave of her orgasm as she did his face.
Her body went limp, and he stood, wrapping his hands around her waist. He found her mouth and kissed her, his tongue seeking entrance and she allowed him. Tasting herself, she moaned.
“You taste that, kitten?” he asked between kisses.
“Mmm, yes,” she breathed.
“That’s what it is to lose control with me, baby. I could taste it every day.” He walked them backward still holding her in his arms.
“Where are we going?” she asked as they moved toward the doorway of his kitchen.
“Upstairs. We’re not finished.” He took her hand and led her out of the room.
She lay in his embrace, her breathing shallow from yet another round of mind-blowing sex. Or, was it love making at this point? He didn’t know how to define it or what she was to him or hell, what he was to her. Last week, if anyone would have asked him about Callie, he would never think they’d even be talking to each other let alone laying in each other’s arms in her bed, and then his, within a 24-hour period of time. But, yet, here they were. They’d managed to roll out of bed long enough to eat dinner and talk business plans for the firm. They’d discussed how to deal with the board and lunch ideas to share with Lana, the event planner, the next day, before they’d ended right back in the same spot, in his bed, naked and entangled. He could feel her deep breaths against his arm as he lazily ran his finger tips up and down her bare back. She splayed her hand over his chest. Her fingers found their way over his nipple a few times. He hadn’t realized how sensitive they were to her touch until his breath caught not once, but twice. Her cute little giggle gave her away. She knew exactly what she was doing to him.
This little tease.
His dick stirred at the thought. But, he’d have the last laugh as he knew exactly how to return the treatment.
“Careful there with that teasing, lady,” he warned.
“Or what?” she countered.
He placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her face to his. Their eyes locked, and he saw she was ready for whatever he wanted to give her. “You are beautiful,” he said instead, running a finger down her cheek lit only by the soft glow of the TV playing on low volume in the background. They’d attempted a movie, but that only lasted about ten minutes before she was lying underneath him yet again. He could still see the flush from his compliment on her cheeks as he landed a kiss to her lips. “I didn’t think we’d be here... Not like this. Not in a lifetime,” he whispered.
“I’m glad we are,” she said against his lips.
“What took us so long?” He kissed her again.
“You’re stubborn as hell.” She nipped at his bottom lip.
He laughed. “Oh, I’m the stubborn one? Takes one to know one, ma’am.”
“I’ll admit I’ve been a bit closed off.” She averted her gaze, avoiding eye contact.
“Hey.” He waited until her attention was back on him. “Was that because of me? Was I really that bad at work?” he asked.
“No, I mean... Well, it wasn’t all because of you. I’ve had some things happen in my life that caused me to withdraw from others and depend solely on me. It’s hard for me to get close to someone and have them leave. I have had problems taking that into relationships. Also, dealing with people who feel I'm not good enough when I work my ass off to be the best I can be.”
“Well, I’m not going anywhere. And, I never thought you weren’t good enough. You’ve been amazing.” She raised a brow at him. “I’m not talking about sexually, Callie. Though, I must say—” She swatted his arm. He laughed before completing his thought. “You have been tremendous at work. You’re smart and quick. You know your shit about the law and you aren’t even a lawyer. I couldn’t think of anyone else I’d rather work closely with, and I mean that.” He ran a hand down her back, bringing her closer to him. He needed her to know how he really thought about her, not what she used to think of him.
“Well, I know that now, and thank you. That means a lot coming from you. To be honest, before… I didn't think we would be able to work together,” she admitted.
“Tell me why that is? What makes you feel people are gonna leave you? And, what is this thing with needing to control everything around you?” He propped himself up on his elbow to get a better view at her face. It looked like it pained her to explain herself to him. He didn't want to probe if it's not what she wanted to talk about, but he really wanted to know what the problem was so he could fix it, especially if it was his fault.
“I was 15 when the accident happened…” She paused and he wanted to jump in.
Accident? What accident? But, he felt if he would have said anything right now, and interrupt her, she would have closed off again and he wouldn't get the full story. So, he waited, as patiently as he could, until she continued talking.
“I was staying the night at a friend's house when my aunt called and told me my mom and dad had been in an accident on the way back from a Christmas party for my dad's job. They hit black ice or something and the car spun out of control into oncoming traffic and they were T-boned by a truck.”
“Jesus,” he muttered.
“They were taken to the hospital, but they were dead on arrival. By the time my aunt picked me up, and took me to the hospital, they were already gone. I didn't get the chance to say goodbye…”
“Baby, I'm so sorry.” He hugged her to him and he could feel the tears wet on his skin as she tried to hold back a sob.
“It still feels like it was yesterday; standing in the hospital with a sense of utter loss and hopelessness. I wasn’t a child, but not yet an adult. Those were still impressionable years without the guidance of my parents. My aunt took me in after that. She wasn’t the warmest person. I think she resented the fact she had the extra responsibility with no real means of taking care of me. She didn’t make much money. I poured myself into my school work and did what I could to get through college. My aunt had to get two jobs to make ends meet. So, I pushed myself doing well in school to get scholarships. I didn’t want to ask h
er for more than I had to. I took care of myself and worked hard. I was able to get into Penn in a leadership development program and that's how I met Paul. He was my mentor and guidance counselor. He became a father figure to me since my dad was gone. I really didn’t have much other family or people older to trust.
Daniel nodded even though she couldn't see him. Her head was still buried in his chest as she poured her heart out. This was the first time she'd ever opened up about anything personal like this. This had to be the most personal thing to her, and she trusted him enough to share. He was glad they were at this point, and some things were making more sense now about her. Her tough-as-nails exterior was due to the fact she had no other choice but to be. It also explains something else that happened today.
“Is that what happened with you at the hospital today? Being there made you think about your parents?”
She nodded against him. “Yes,” she said, her tone quiet. “That is the same hospital they were brought to that night. The sounds of the ER just reminded me of standing there as a teenager hearing my mom and dad were dead… Now the man that took me under his wing and guided me in my professional journey is now laying there too clinging to his life. It was just too much to think about at one time. I'm sorry I snapped at you, Daniel. I’m sorry I’ve been such a… bitch toward you this past year. It’s uncalled for. None of this is your fault. You were just being who you are. There is nothing wrong with that.”
“No, don't worry about any of that. You were right. Maybe I pushed Paul more than I should have and I totally get why you were upset about everything. I need someone in my life to call me on my shit sometimes,” he laughed.
For You I Will Page 10
