by Opal Carew
He wanted to start a real relationship with her. She was exactly the woman he could see in his life.
So he would tell her now, then take her to dinner. He had already made reservations at Marie D’s one of the most elegant and romantic restaurants in town. He would wine her and dine her, then take her back to his place and make sweet, passionate love to her. He would prove to her how much he wanted her in his life.
“I’m glad you were willing to stay. I actually want to talk about us and our arrangement. There are some changes I’d like to make.”
She drew in a deep breath. “I need to say something. I’ve been thinking about this and…you said if anything about the arrangement made me uncomfortable we could stop.”
His breathing stopped as he stared at her. “Yes, that’s right.”
She nodded. “I think we should end this now.” She hesitated, seeming to want to say more, but the seconds slipped by.
“I see.” His heart sank. “Why?”
“I just think it’s a bad idea to keep going. I think it’ll cause problems and…”—she gazed at him with solemn eyes—“I really want to keep this job. I don’t want to ruin things.”
His eyes narrowed. “This isn’t because you’ve been developing feelings for me, is it?”
He thought she had. When he looked into her eyes when they were together…when he’d held her just before he left on his trip…he was sure he’d seen more than just lust in her eyes.
She hesitated. “No, of course not. We said sex only.” Her gaze dropped to her hands. “And that’s all it was.”
He wanted to fight for her. To insist they give it more time.
He wanted to drag her into his arms and convince her she couldn’t live without him.
But it wasn’t right to pressure her. He was in a position of authority. He didn’t want to put her in a difficult position.
“All right. I’m sorry for keeping you late this evening. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He walked to briefcase, then picked it up and walked out of the office.
* * *
Kali ached as she watched him leave. It was over. She wanted nothing more than to run after him and grab his arm, then pull him into a passionate embrace and tell him she wanted to be with him. Even if it was just for shallow office sex. That had to be better than not being with him at all.
Except she knew it would break her heart when it ended. He would walk away from their casual fling totally unscathed, but she would be a hopeless mess.
And from his question, he suspected as much.
It was better to end it now before it became even more painful.
* * *
Ryan tossed back the rest of his drink, then pushed it toward the bartender, who nodded and poured another.
“How do you do it?” Ryan asked Spencer. “Fuck your secretary without any qualms?”
Spencer shrugged. “What’s the big deal? She’s happy. I’m happy. It works for both of us.”
“But what if she weren’t happy? What if she told you it was over? Then what? Just back to business as usual?”
Ryan realized is words were slurring a little. Fuck, it wasn’t like him to drink too much. Or to fucking feel sorry for himself like he was right now.
“I take it Kali ended it with you.” Spencer swirled his drink in his glass—still his first—as he watched Ryan.
“Yeah, she thinks it’s better to keep our relationship business only.”
“A decision I take it you’re not happy with.”
Ryan frowned and shook his head. “Not at all. What we had was great. Fucking in the office every morning was…it was fucking great.” He wrapped his hand around his drink and took a swig. “And when I went away, I knew I wanted more, but when I sat her down to talk about it, she just ended it.”
“After you told her you wanted more?”
“No, she didn’t give me the chance.”
“Man, have you fallen for her?”
Ryan stared at Spencer and frowned. Then shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s over.”
“You’re sure about that?”
Ryan tightened his hands around his glass. “I can’t force her into a relationship with me.”
Spencer rested his hand on Ryan’s arm. “Look, there’s something you should know…”
* * *
Kali went into the office the next morning dreading facing Mr. Blair. What would it be like in the office now that she’d pulled the plug on their sexual relationship? Would everything go back to normal, or would it be awkward and weird?
And painful. For her, at least. Because she now knew she was in love with the man.
A part of her knew she had to resign. Walk away entirely.
But she didn’t want that.
She noted that Mr. Blair’s office door was closed as she walked to her desk. She opened her email and found one from Mr. Blair telling her he was out of the office all day and that she should cancel his afternoon appointments. She looked at his calendar, but there were no appointments booked this morning and he had not added anything new this afternoon.
Whatever it was must have come up suddenly. He didn’t usually update his calendar. He left that to her.
She picked up the phone and started making the calls to clear his afternoon.
She kept herself busy the rest of the morning, glad she didn’t have to face him until tomorrow. She expected to go to lunch with Serena, as usual, but her friend cancelled. The conversation was short and Kali felt like her friend was being a bit evasive, but she shrugged it off and grabbed a quick sandwich at the deli.
When she returned to her desk, she started on some reports Mr. Blair had asked her to edit for him.
The phone rang and she picked it up. “Mr. Blair’s office. May I help you.”
“Kali, I need you to come downtown right away and bring my tablet. It’s sitting on my desk. If you grab a cab now, you should be here in fifteen minutes. I’ve texted you the address.”
“Yes, sir. I’m on my way.”
She hurried into his office and grabbed the tablet from his desk, slid it into her purse, then raced down to the lobby. She’d called on her way down so reception had a cab waiting at the door for her. She glanced at her watch. It was one fifteen. He probably needed the tablet for a meeting at one thirty.
The driver pulled up in front of the address she’d given him. She paid him then entered the tall building. But as she headed for the door, she realized it wasn’t an office tower. It seemed to be an apartment building.
The doorman opened the door for her. “Are you Ms. Clark?”
“Yes. How do you know?” she asked as she stepped inside.
“Mr. Blair asked me to watch for you. He said to send you to apartment 1805. The elevator is that way.”
She walked in the direction he pointed, then entered the elevator. As it carried her upward, she wondered what was going on. Moments later, she stood outside the designated apartment and knocked on the door.
It opened and she found herself starting at Mr. Blair.
“Come in,” he said, no warmth in his voice.
She followed him into the large, luxurious apartment. It was all dark wood and leather furniture, with a spectacular view of the city below.
“Is this your place?” she asked.
“The tablet?” He held out his hand, ignoring her question.
His expression was so stern. It made her uncomfortable. She reached into her purse and pulled out the tablet, then handed it to him.
Was he angry with her for breaking off their arrangement? Had he called her here to fire her?
“Sit down, Kali.”
She sank into a leather armchair, watching him. “Don’t you have a meeting—?”
His harsh gaze cut off her words. “I have a question for you.”
“Yes?” She rested her hands on the armrests nervously.
“Why did you lie to me?”
“Lie? About what?”
“You told me
that you weren’t developing feelings for me. That what we had was just sex.”
She nodded. “That’s right. That’s what we agreed to.”
“Yes, we did.” He leaned forward. “But sometimes things change.”
His intense gaze sent a shiver down her spine.
“I understand. That’s why it was a good idea to break it off before anything like that happened.”
He compressed his lips and nodded. “But it was too late, wasn’t it?”
Her eyes widened. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I have it on good authority that you have developed feelings for me. You might even be in love with me.”
She shook her head, ready to deny it.
But she couldn’t. Not with his glittering gaze locked on her face, challenging her. She couldn’t lie.
“I’m sorry. I guess the best thing is if I—”
“You’re not going to offer to quit again, are you?”
She frowned and drew in a deep breath. “It seems the only reasonable thing to do.”
“It might be if I didn’t share your feelings.”
She blinked. He shared her feelings?
“Are you saying—?” she asked in a hushed voice.
He waved her to silence. “Come over here, Kali.”
She stood up and walked to the couch where he sat, then stood before him.
“You lied, so you should be punished.”
A shiver danced up her spine.
“Drop your skirt right now.”
Without thinking, she unzipped her skirt and pushed it over her hips. It fell to the floor and pooled at her feet. His gaze glided over her long legs and settled on the crotch of her panties, sending heat humming through her.
He stood and guided her to the back of the couch, then pressed her forward until she leaned over it. A second later, she felt the sting of his hand connecting with her backside.
“Oh!”
He smacked her bottom again. Since she wore a thong, his hand connected with naked flesh. And that flesh now burned. He smacked one more time, then his hand stroked over her stinging bottom.
“I want you to promise you won’t lie to me again.”
“But—”
He slapped her ass again. “Promise.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
His hand glided over her skin again, soothing the sensitive flesh.
“Good. Because the only way we can develop a real relationship is to be totally honest with each other.”
“A real relationship?”
His hand stroked over her ass, then glided along her inner thigh, sending need quivering through her.
“Yes. Haven’t you been paying attention? You have feeling for me…” He leaned over and she almost jumped at the feel of his lips fluttering over her ass. “And I have feelings for you.”
“But I thought…” Her words faded away when she felt his fingers glide over the crotch of her panties, stroking her intimate flesh through the thin silk.
“That’s the problem. You’re thinking too much.” His finger slid under the fabric and he stroked her slick folds. “Right now, I just want you to feel.”
Then he pulled the fabric aside and she felt his mouth on her. His tongue nudged between her folds and licked. When his fingers found her clit and stroked, she moaned.
He pressed her legs wider apart, giving himself better access, then nuzzled her. Wild sensations sparked through her.
“I’m going to make you come now, and when I do, I want you to say my name.”
“Yes, Mr. Blair.”
His fingers slid inside and she clamped around them.
“Very good. But when I bring you that greatest of pleasure, I want you to call me Ryan. Understand?”
He stroked her passage, the erotic sensations spinning a web of pleasure around her.
“Oh, yes, sir.”
Then his tongue dove into her, licking and thrusting. His fingertip stroked her little bud, igniting explosions of delight. He used his thumbs to open her fleshy petals, exposing her clit. Then he licked it.
“Oh, God.”
Pleasure spiraled around her as his tongue lapped at her. Then he suckled and she gasped. Heat swamped her body and her knees grew weak.
“Do you want more?” he asked.
She nodded. “Please.”
He chuckled then suckled her tiny bud again. She started to tremble as her insides swelled with need. Pleasure built inside her, stoked by his mouth and his fingers teasing her opening. Then they thrust inside her. Pulsing deep and with a steady rhythm.
“Yes, oh, so good.”
“Are you close?” he asked.
She nodded. He drove into her faster as his tongue flickered over her. Then he sucked her clit and an explosion of pleasure erupted inside her.
“Oh, God, Ryan. Yessss!!!”
“Fuck, baby.” He groaned as she shuddered against his mouth. He sucked again, driving her orgasm higher and higher… until she catapulted into pure ecstasy.
When she finally collapsed against the couch, he wrapped his arms around her waist and gave her a squeeze, then kissed her back.
She felt his hands on her shoulders and he helped her stand. He turned her, then she found herself in his arms, his lips moving on hers. She melted against him, uncertain what was happening, but loving the sweetness of his embrace and his tender kiss.
“You said it was just sex between us, but we both know it’s developed into more than that, and I want us to explore what we have.” He stroked her cheek. “Kali, I’m falling for you. Hard. And I want to explore a relationship with you, with all the facets.” He smiled.
Her heart soared. “Not just sex in the office, then back to work afterward?”
“Sometimes. But also here in my apartment.” He tightened his arms around her. “In my bed. With you moaning my name.” He grinned. “Sometimes it’ll be Mr. Blair, and other times Ryan. Whatever I feel like at the time.”
She laughed. “And what about me?”
“Don’t forget. I’m the one in charge. But I’ll definitely keep your wants in mind.” He nuzzled her neck. “And I plan to meet them.” His twinkling gaze locked on hers. “Thoroughly. And repeatedly.”
She sucked in a breath.
“Well, talking about meeting needs…” Her hand stroked over his hard cock. “I think I should meet yours now.”
“That’s a good idea.” He smacked her bottom and she gasped. “Now into my bedroom.”
She walked toward the room he gestured to, conscious of his appreciative gaze on her naked bottom. Soon she would have his cock in her mouth, then shortly after, he would fuck her. Her insides melted at the thought.
But as soon as she opened the door, all thoughts scattered.
Inside the room was a plethora of lit candles, filling the room with a lovely glow. Six large vases of long-stem roses were positioned around the room, filling the air with their sweet fragrance.
She stood frozen in the doorway. His hands curled over her shoulders and he nuzzled her neck, sending tingles through her.
“Your friend said you wanted candle light and flowers.”
Tears welled in her eyes. He’d said he was developing feelings for her, but she’d taken that to mean he liked her and wanted to get to know her outside the office, too. But this wasn’t just Mr. Blair convincing her to continue their office fling, and just sweetening the pot. He was actually offering her romance.
“Do you like them?” he murmured against her ear.
She nodded, the tears escaping and rolling down her cheeks. Then she turned to face him.
His smile faded as he saw her tears, but she flung her arms around him and kissed him.
“I love them!”
He laughed and claimed her lips again. Then he gazed down at her with gleaming eyes.
“Kali, I’ve wanted you for a long time, and now I realize it wasn’t just lust, or an infatuation. When I’m away from you, all I can think about is being with you again.
That’s why I asked you to stay at the office when I got back from the trip. I wanted to tell you then that I wanted us to have a real relationship.”
“And I broke it off. Because I felt the same, but thought…” She shook her head.
“When you broke off the relationship, I was devastated, and I quickly realized what these feeling were…”
He lowered his face to hers and kissed her tenderly. “I love you, Kali.”
More tears rolled from her eyes as joy rocketed through her.
“I love you, too. Ryan.”
He laughed and squeezed her tight then twirled her around in sheer joy.
“Now that we have that settled, I think we should do something about it.”
She smiled. “What do you have in mind?”
He scooped up her legs, then carried her to the bed. He laid her on it, then he stepped back and peeled off his clothes. She watched as he revealed his thick, muscular chest and shoulders, and realized she had never seen him naked.
And boy, was that a shame. Because he was incredible. Rippling muscles and rock-hard abs. His pants dropped to the floor and his briefs barely contained his long erection.
As he pushed down his underwear, she unbuttoned her blouse. She tossed it aside, then shed her bra.
“I’ll get the panties,” he said as he sat on the bed beside her. His fingers stroked along her panty-line then he drew them down her hips, revealing her clean-shaven pussy.
She opened her legs in invitation and he knelt between them, his gaze locked on her glistening folds.
He pressed his hard cock to her slick opening and stroked her sensitive flesh. She moaned at the exquisite sensations.
Then his cock slipped away as he leaned forward and licked her nipple. His mouth covered it and he suckled. She clung to his head, her fingers gliding through his wavy hair.
“God, Ryan, please. I want to feel you inside me.”
He sucked hard, driving her need higher, then licked the other nipple.
“If you insist.” He pressed his cockhead to her again and her breath held. “I’m going to fill you with my cock now.” He smiled. “I’m going to drive in deep and hard.”
“Oh, yes, please.”
His deep chuckle filled the room as he thrust into her. His big body was on top of hers, from shoulder to toe. He drew back, then drove deep again.
