by Lauren Wood
“Well it is a beautiful day. I think I am going to go see if it feels as good out there as it looks. Are there any good places to have lunch around here that you could point me in the right direction? I am still trying to get my bearings back.”
“How about I just take you to a nice place? I don’t want you to have lunch alone.”
I should have told him no. It was on the tip of my tongue to say that very thing, but I just couldn’t. I don’t know why, but instead I told him that I would go. I wanted to be around Sam, even if I was going to faller deeper into a hole that I was never going to be able to get myself out of. Men like Sam didn’t fall in love and if they did, it certainly wouldn’t be with someone like me. So maybe I should just enjoy it while it lasts.
Following him to the elevator, I noticed a few looks as we were walking out that I tried to ignore. I didn’t want the reputation that I was making. I had already been asked about it, but at the same time, I wanted to see Sam more than I cared of someone seeing us together. I didn’t want people to look at me like I was ‘his girl’ but I also didn’t want to ignore the way I felt about Sam. I was pulled in too many directions.
When the doors shut, he turned to me and I felt like we were back at the hotel again in Thailand. He had this look of conspiracy on his face and it made me smile.
“I have missed you.”
His words took me off guard and I waved him off. “I am sure there are plenty of women here to keep you busy Sam. I have already heard all about your reputation around here.”
He put his hands up like I had struck a blow. “Those are the rumors of the old me. I am a different man now. You should know that. You are the one that changed me.”
“Last time we talked, you told me that we were going to go back to the city and go one with our own lives? Do you remember telling me that to lower expectations?”
Sam was quiet for a minute and then shook his head. “No, I don’t think I said quite that and if I did, I was wrong. I don’t want to go back to the way that things used to be before I knew you. That is why I miss you so much because I worried I wouldn’t get to see you again.”
I wanted to believe him, I really did, but I was still so sure that he was just telling me what I wanted to hear. It was of course, exactly what I wanted to hear from him. It was what I wanted to hear the night before we came back. What had changed his mind now? Why did he think it was possible now?
The elevator stopped and someone got on. They said hello to Sam and even though there were so many employees, he seemed to know their name like everyone else in this place. It gave me time to think about what he was saying and it gave my face time to lose the rose glow that Sam caused me. Everyone in the elevator got off at the ground floor and I was left waiting for Sam to stop talking to one of the other employees. He didn’t mention going out to lunch when he was asked. When I asked about it, he just kind of shrugged. “I don’t want to have to share you with anyone. I just don’t want to right now. Is that selfish of me?”
He made me smile all the way to his car. I had told myself this very morning that I wasn’t going to do that very thing, but I was doing it and I don’t know if I was going to be able to stop myself or not. It looked like I was just as much under his spell here in New York, as I was in Thailand when he was my lifeline. Sam was still my lifeline, no matter how much I knew that he really wasn’t. I wanted to cling to him like he was. He had proven that there was another side to me and I didn’t want to lose that. I didn’t want to lose the feeling I got when I was with him, no matter how long it was for.
***
“You seem different today Meri. Are you sure you are feeling well?”
“Yes, it is just a lot to take on here. I forgot how big the city was and how expensive.”
We were getting out of the car and the valet was taking his keys while Sam handed him a twenty. I wondered for a moment how many people Sam tipped on a regular basis. He tipped everyone from what I could tell and that just made my point even more clear. It was expensive to live here, just to go to a restaurant, Sam would spend more parking his car then I would have spent on a whole meal with tip. It was strange to think about how different our lives were from each other’s. It was hard to keep up with a man like that, even if I tried. I still don’t know how Ashlyn did it. She had come from nothing as well. How did she get through the little changes when wealth was so near at hand everywhere a person went?
“It isn’t so bad. Everywhere is expensive if you make it that way, New York is the same.”
I begged to differ, considering how much I was paying for a one bedroom walk-up, but I didn’t mention my woes, just agreed to disagree. He would never understand my problems, as I would never understand his. I had a feeling that Sam had never had to worry about money a day in his life, not really.
“Well it may be a lot of things, but at night with all of the lights on, it almost makes it worth it.”
He smiled back at me as we were escorted to a table. I just followed him as he was the one that seemed to know where we were going. I took a seat on one side of the table and watched while Sam slid the chair over beside me. “If we are going to eat together, I don’t want to sit all the way across the table from you. I want to be closer Meri.”
Chapter 14
Sam
“Well you are more than welcome. There is plenty of room.”
As she said that, I scooted a little bit closer. I had my mind on one thing and one thing only. I wanted to get my hands on Meri. That was the only sure way that I knew of to get her seeing things my way. Even now I could tell that she was feeling our closeness. I could see her shaking in the seat next to me and I was going to take it as a good thing. I was glad that I could still make Meri nervous, that meant I was doing it the right way.
“So what is good here?”
“Everything and if you don’t see what you want on the menu, the chef will whip you up whatever you like. I come here a lot and they know me well here.”
“I don’t doubt that. It seems like everywhere we go, everyone knows you.”
I nodded that it was true. Everyone knew me, but that was because everyone wanted something from me. It was hard to go on with that feeling, knowing that every meeting was going to turn into what I could do for them. It was frustrating and I wished sometimes that no one knew who I was. Then I would see what people really thought about me.
“Yes they do. It is part of the job. My face is on so many billboards that even if they don’t know who I am, people think they know of me.”
“Sounds exhausting.”
It was exactly what it was. I should have been honored and happy that I was noticed and seen, but it was just exhausting to have to be ‘on’ all of the time. I didn’t like the feeling one bit and that was one of the reasons that I felt so at ease with Meri. She didn’t put up any of the same airs that the rest of the people in my circle did. It was tiring to say the least.
“It can be. Everyone usually thinks that I love that side of business, but it is the worst part. I don’t like being recognized so much. I think that is why I liked being in Thailand so much. Even though I stuck out as a tourist, that was as far as it went. I was left alone and didn’t have to worry about running into anyone that I knew or that knew me.”
“That must be hard. I thought that New York was charming because you could be anonymous. That is what I like about it most. In small towns, everyone knows everyone and all of the business of each.”
I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else but here sometimes. It occurred to me that I still didn’t know that much about Meri and I figured that it was time to remedy that.
“So you grew up in a small town?”
She nodded and looked at the menu. It was a big one and I could tell that she was having trouble figuring out what she wanted. I showed her a few things that were my favorites and waited while she ordered when the waiter came.
“Yes, I was raised in a small town long enough. As soon as I was old enough, I go
t out of there, never to go back.”
She was leaving a lot out. That much I knew, but I didn’t want to question all of that. It was clear that she didn’t want to delve that much deeper.
“How old were you when you came to New York then?”
“I was about fifteen or so when I first came here. It was a lot bigger then. It seemed like a place that a person could get swallowed in. That is why I always loved this place. I would hate to be you. It would ruin the charm of it all if everyone knew my name.”
I chuckled out of the blue. I hadn’t expected that for an answer and I just shook my head. She knew me too well or we just thought too much alike. It was kind of freaky in a way and I put my hand over hers in a moment of happiness, not really thinking about how that was going to make her feel.
Meri looked down at our connecting hands and smiled. I knew that she wanted me to move it, she was uncomfortable, but I rubbed the back of her hand with my thumb instead of doing what I should have done. I had missed her terribly and even though I was still surprise that I had said such a thing out loud, I knew that I didn’t care. I was passed the point of caring what anyone but me and her thought or felt about any of it.
She finally pulled away from me. “We shouldn’t do that kind of thing here.”
“Why not?”
“Someone from work could be here and I don’t want rumors started. I don’t want a reputation like yours Sam. It is okay for guys, but for me it would be disastrous. I just don’t think it would be a good idea to be seen getting so cozy with the boss.”
“That bad?”
Meri kind of half-shrugged and wouldn’t meet my gaze. It must be pretty bad. I was hoping to sweep her off her feet before she could hear about all of that, but it just wasn’t meant to go that way.
“You can’t believe everything that you hear. And I don’t pay anyone at the office enough to eat here. The prices aren’t on the menu for a reason.”
She looked down at her hands and then back over to me. “I just don’t know what this is Sam. I am confused. When we got on the plane, I thought that was it. I didn’t realize that I would be working for you. It makes it complicated.”
Meri was talking herself out of it before we ever got started and I didn’t want to take no for an answer. I remembered her body well and since I was the first and only, I was her sole provider of pleasure. Maybe she needed a reminder about what it was that I could do for her, what I loved to do for her.
My hand went to her knee and she eyed it like it was a snake. I chuckled at her and moved my hand lower on her thigh. It wasn’t long in my downward quest that I found the hem of her skirt and started to rise back up to the top, moving underneath the soft peach fabric.
Meri made a sound and I looked over at the blushing woman. I wished more than anything that I knew what it was that was going through her mind. She was so calm and collected on the outside, unless you were as close as I was and could see her whole body trembling.
“What are you doing?”
Her words were rushed and it looked like she was going to move if I didn’t answer or do something else soon. My hand had reached the apex of her legs, the heat emanating off of her in a way that enticed the bloody hell out of me. “I want to make you feel good Meri. I miss hearing you come.”
“We are in a restaurant!”
“Yes we are, so you better try to tone it down. You can get pretty loud sometimes when you get all worked up.”
Meri sent me a withering look and I forgot for a moment how delicate she was and how much of an amateur she was. It made my loins tight to know and remember, but I didn’t want to tone down my actions for her delicate sensibilities. I wanted her now and there was nothing that was going to stop me. Meri was going to have to get used to me.
I stopped at her panties and pulled them to the side with my fingers. I heard her gasp and I have to say that I absolutely loved the sound of it. Just Meri’s sounds alone could keep me up at night and I think that she knew it. She knew what she did to me and I was sure that she enjoyed it. I was going crazy sitting next to her and when I reached her wet heat the cock between my own legs lurched painfully. I needed her, badly, right now.
Settling for my finger getting wet and nothing else, Meri’s hands gripped the edge of the table and I could tell that she was already on her way to pleasure. Meri’s body was so quick to give me what I wanted. I knew all I had to do was get my hands on her and she would be unable to resist me.
Her tightness gripped my finger and I groaned as I started to pump inside of her. Meri was biting her bottom lip to stop herself from making a sound, but it was not working as she wanted. I could hear her, maybe a few of the people that were around us, but in a place like this, no one was going to say a word about it. There were benefits, as well as cons with being so well known. I was rich enough that no one questioned me. I wasn’t crazy or wrong, I was just eccentric in some groups.
Pressing in deeper, I felt her clit start rubbing against the heel of my hand. I could see the waitress coming with our food on a tray and I knew I wasn’t going to have much longer. I had mere seconds, so I rubbed and pumped as fast as I could.
Meri grabbed my thigh and squeezed hard, gripping me as a wave of pleasure went through her. Her eyes were closed and her lips were pursed perfectly. I leaned over and kissed her, pulling her out of the moment as my fingers slipped out of her. The waitress was setting down the stand to put the tray on as I licked Meri’s fluid off of my fingers. Her face was beet red when she saw the other waitress, but it didn’t matter to me one way or another. All I was thinking about was what it was going to be like to be inside of her again.
After the waitress left, Meri didn’t say a word, getting up and going to the bathroom. She was in there a while, but I was in no hurry and waited until she was back to start. I wasn’t going to make it go any faster than necessary.
“You haven’t said much Meri.”
“What am I supposed to say?”
“How about you help me out now?”
Her face was stricken and while I had said it as a joke, I was glad I did. It hadn’t even occurred to her to do such a thing and I liked the idea of putting it in her mind. Now she was thinking about it because I caught her checking me out under the table a couple of times. Just the idea of it was enough to have me rock hard and not sure what to do with it.
“I have to be getting back to work soon Sam. I don’t want to be late on my first day.”
“Come on Meri, I am sure that I can convince your boss to let it slide this one time.”
Meri was adamant of no and she pushed her plate to the side, as well as moving her seat over a little bit so that I couldn’t start putting my hands on her again. “If you are going to be too much longer or have somewhere else to go, I can find a taxi back to the office.”
“Of course not, I am ready whenever you are.”
I could tell that she was by how fast she popped up out of her seat like the whole place was on fire. I didn’t want her to run away like this, but I had gone too far. It wasn’t hard to do when I was dying to be with her again. I had waited since I had been back in New York and quite frankly, I was feeling rather feral.
Chapter 15
Meri
I got back to work and tried my best to ignore what Sam and I had done at lunch. It was over the top and I still couldn’t believe that he had done such a thing in front of all of those people, but there was no denying that I liked it. It had felt so damn good, making me remember in such gory detail how much I missed how he made my body sing. I wanted that again, but knew that I shouldn’t. I already loved him and each word passed between us, each touch, just made me want him more, saddening me when the realization that I am never going to have him for my own set in. Sam is not the type of man to be held down and I am not the type of woman to be so free about it all, no matter how much I wanted to be for him.
Grant was getting flirty again and in spite of the great lunch with Sam, I knew that I needed to get my
mind off of him. It was that reason only that I told Grant that I would go out with him. He wasn’t my type, if I had one and he was a safe choice. I could be with him and not really worry about feelings. We could just be friends and I could really use the diversion to get my mind off of the boss.
We were about to go to dinner when I heard Sam calling my name. It was the second time that he had sought me out in the accounting department in the same day, my first day and I really could have strung him up at this point. It was just making it far too obvious and I couldn’t believe that he couldn’t see it. Or maybe he didn’t care. Either way, I could already see by the look on Grant’s face that he at least noticed what was going on.
“Do you want me to give you a minute Meri or have our plans changed?”
The look on Sam’s face, so smug pissed me off. After what he had done to me at the restaurant, I wanted more, but not like this. I wasn’t going to let him think that I had no choice. I had already made plans with Grant and I wasn’t going to change them now. I told Sam that I didn’t want people gossiping about me, but he was doing nothing to stop that from happening.
“Our plans haven’t changed Grant. What can I do for you Sir?”
Sam was eying Grant and I had a feeling that no matter what I said, Grant was going to give us a moment alone. He didn’t want to get in trouble with the boss and I didn’t blame him. The work and pay here at the firm were really good and it was far more laid back then it would be at another place.
“I am going to go grab those last reports for the day Meri. I will be back in a few minutes.”
He was abandoning me and I looked after him, a little perturbed that he had such small gonads to do that. He could have stuck it out with me. I didn’t want to tell Sam no. I had never been good at that.
Sam waited until Grant left before he turned towards me. “You have plans tonight?”
He was not happy and that very fact made me smile. It was genuine smile and I liked the idea that I had put such a damper on his smug mood. The idea of him with other women made me feel about like how he looked at the moment and I liked to think that was for a reason.
