by Ranae Rose
He smiled. “You mean Jess is the only one who inherited the art gene?”
“She must have gotten it from her father. Our mother can’t draw her way out of a paper bag.”
He didn’t say anything, but his eyebrow arched, unintentionally reflecting the question he was probably too considerate to ask.
“I mean, we haven’t seen her lately,” Mina clarified. “We’re estranged. She’s spent the past few years in and out of jail, which is why I was able to get custody of Jess. Truthfully, I don’t even know where she’s living.”
“Sorry.” Eric took a sip of his water. “I didn’t mean to dredge that up.”
“It’s not a big deal. Her absence is no loss, to be honest. The day I was granted custody of Jess was the happiest day of my life.”
The flan came and disappeared quickly – Eric hadn’t been exaggerating, it was amazing – but when it was gone, her stomach felt somehow empty, as if the bottom had dropped right out of it. She rose from her chair reluctantly after Eric paid the bill and followed him out into the night, leaving the restaurant’s spicy scents and lively music behind.
He opened the door for her and she drifted through, feeling as if her stomach were full of butterflies instead of fajitas and flan. His touch was feather-light, so that at first it barely registered when he pressed his fingertips to the small of her back. Despite his delicacy, a bolt of awareness shot through her, leaving her feeling as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her entire body tingling, she allowed him to walk by her side, his arm brushing her shoulder as he staked a quiet claim on her.
He maintained contact as they walked the short distance to the parking garage where they’d left his car, and when they stepped into the building and headed toward the elevator, her stomach flip-flopped and her nerves buzzed. When the elevator opened, it was empty. They stepped inside, alone together. The light-headedness that struck Mina had nothing to do with the sudden movement and everything to do with the kiss Eric pressed against her lips.
The lingering fajita spices leant a pleasant heat to his taste, which she experienced in full when he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, searching for hers. She gave it to him, her inhibitions melting for at least a moment. She was still avoiding underwires for the sake of her tattoo, and her nipples pricked against the thin shelf bra that was built into the cami she wore beneath her shirt. Eric placed his hands on her hips, pulling her against him. She gave in to the seductive press of his firm body, relaxing against him as he leaned against the elevator wall. He teased her tongue with his, cueing her body to respond. She gripped handfuls of his jacket and slid her tongue deep into his mouth. It was almost impossible to think of how just moments ago, she’d been worrying over whether he’d want anything to do with her anymore. She gripped the fabric tighter, letting her fingernails bite into his sides as she tasted him, intensely aware of the hardness that—
Ding. The elevator came to a halt that seemed far too sudden, the doors rumbling ominously as she and Eric were exposed to…
No one. When she pulled her mouth from his and looked over her shoulder, there was no one waiting on the fourth level. She sighed, as much from desire as relief.
Eric took her by the hand as they left the elevator and she let him guide her, drifting by his side toward the car, still tasting him on her tongue. Her nerves were buzzing, her senses on red-alert. Worries were still whirling somewhere in the back of her mind, but when his lips touched hers, it was impossible to focus on anything but him. On how badly she wanted him, even though she knew deep down that it wouldn’t work…would it? She sighed. His kisses had challenged what she’d thought she’d known – that he wouldn’t be interested in her after learning about her unusual family situation.
“Is something wrong?” He gave her hand an almost imperceptible squeeze as they stopped at the car.
She looked up slowly, meeting the gorgeous blue eyes that had been haunting her ever since she’d first met him during her consultation at Hot Ink. “No.” At least, it wasn’t when he looked at her that way; like he wanted her as badly as she wanted him, and – even more importantly – like he actually cared.
“Good.” He unlocked the car and opened the passenger-side door for her, his fingertips brushing the small of her back as she ducked inside.
“Where would you like to go now?” He asked once he’d joined her, sliding the key into the ignition as he settled into the driver’s seat.
Where to now? She’d assumed that he’d take her home after dinner. Unless he thought…
“I’d planned to take you to a movie, if that’s something you’d like.”
A movie. Mina’s heart slowed just a little as his words washed over her. She glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard, noting that it was already nine o’clock.
“If you’d rather not, that’s all right,” he said. “I know you have work in the morning.”
She nodded slowly, trying to imagine what it would be like to sit close beside him in the dark for an hour or two. Would she be able to pay any attention to the movie at all? Would she actually be able to keep her hands off of him for that long, or would the slightest touch in the dark of the theater turn into something like what they’d just done in the elevator? She didn’t normally think of herself as someone who’d steal deep-reaching kisses in elevators or movie theaters like a sex-starved teenager, but the temptation to do just that was undeniable. She just couldn’t deny her attraction to him, which was stronger – surprisingly, alarmingly stronger – than anything she’d ever felt toward anyone else.
“Would you rather I took you home?”
He was polite, but the low note of angst in his voice didn’t escape her notice. She turned her attention away from the digital clock, looking to him instead. It was semi-dark inside the car, but what light had managed to make it in was reflected in his eyes, rendering them almost luminous. “No.” It might not have been exactly what she’d intended to say, but it was the truth.
Before she knew it his lips were brushing hers, soft and hot, still tasting of spices. Had she leaned forward or had he? Every inch of her skin tingled as he buried a hand in her hair and pulled her close, his teeth denting her lip as his tongue glided over hers, deep into her mouth. By the time his fingertips made contact with the soft skin above the low waistband of her jeans, she felt as if she’d been waiting for a million years for him to touch her there. He kept his hand in her hair as he traced the curve of her hipbone with the other, eliciting a second, even-stronger wave of longing. She couldn’t help trembling when his fingertips brushed her belly.
She was sure he knew exactly what he was doing. His touch was just light enough to make her crave more. She remembered the way he’d grasped her hand as they’d left the elevator and the way he’d held her in the studio. Why couldn’t his touch be that solid, that possessive, now? He was teasing her, holding back and rousing her impatience. He had a light, precise touch when he chose to use it – he had to, for his line of work.
She pushed her tongue deeper into his mouth, letting her rapidly increasing desire take over, demanding more. Her teeth dented his soft lower lip and he finally flattened his hand against her belly in response, touching her in earnest. His palm was hot and his fingertips were just touching the lower curve of her breast. It ached – she ached – for more. Arching her back, she pressed herself against him, filling his palm. It was perfectly sized to accommodate her curves. He cradled the swell of her breast, sending a wave of bone-deep satisfaction through her.
It was short lived. After the initial sense of gratification faded, the ache in her breast returned with a vengeance, wanting more of his touch. She kissed him harder, inviting him to abandon gentleness. He tightened his hold, exerting a gentle pressure that caused her core to tighten and the skin between her thighs to tingle. He found her nipple with his fingertips and explored its hardness. She could just imagine his lips moving over her chest, soft and hot, eventually finding the stiff peak of her breast. He massaged it, fueling h
er sudden fantasy. Her moan was lost in the low hum of a working motor and rolling tires, and just like that, she remembered that they were in a parking garage, making out like a couple of teenagers as another car rolled past.
Eric slowly withdrew his hand from beneath her top, giving her breast one last regretful caress. He waited a few moments longer to break the kiss, and she didn’t complain. A part of her didn’t want to ever stop kissing him. Another part of her was suddenly hyper-aware that they were in the front seats of his car in a public parking garage, divided only by the console that was digging into her hip. She finally opened her eyes and met his, facing reality.
His eyes were as blue as ever, his gaze hazy. His lips, which were normally naturally full, seemed a little more so – inflamed from hard kissing. Hers felt the same way – tingly and slightly swollen. God, she wanted him. And she had a feeling that if they’d been in a place that was the least bit accommodating, she’d already have him.
But they weren’t. She hadn’t imagined that a first date – well, if she didn’t count the coffee shop thing – would have ended like this; with her wishing that they were in bed instead of in a car and that his hands were still on her body. That he wouldn’t stop until he’d touched every last little bit of her, and then some. That just wasn’t her. She didn’t usually give in to physical temptations, and in any case, she’d never found anybody as tempting as Eric. And the attraction seemed to be gloriously mutual, despite what she’d told him about herself. Either it wasn’t an issue for him, or…
Her stomach lurched unpleasantly, and for half a second she thought she might lose her fajitas. Maybe any future complications caused by her responsibilities weren’t an issue because he wasn’t thinking that far ahead. Maybe he thought she’d be up for a one night stand before they went their separate ways. She bit the inside of her lip, studying his eyes as she tried to ignore the crushing feeling that had settled over her. They were so gorgeous, hazy with the same desire that was flooding through her veins. Could he really be thinking she’d go for that?
Maybe so. After all, she certainly hadn’t resisted any of his advances. Maybe they hadn’t all even been his; maybe she’d been equally responsible. And then there were the photos – they’d been racy, evocative. God, they’d actually kissed. If he thought she’d do that for the sake of a photo, then why wouldn’t he expect her to be up for a meaningless tryst? After all, the physical chemistry between them was undeniable.
“Is everything OK?” His eyes cleared a bit, his gaze sharpening with apparent concern.
No, it wasn’t OK. She suddenly felt like she’d led him on, and now she either had to admit it and apologize or live up to the impression she’d apparently given. Did he expect her to go home with him now? Her nipples were still rock-hard, the one he’d touched tingling with the desire for more attention. Her body wanted more of him, but she didn’t do one night stands. She didn’t do meaningless. Her life had been far too full of emptiness up until a few short years ago, and she’d worked hard to obtain the sense of comfortable control she now had. If there was one thing she’d grown to hate, it was watching a woman treat her body like public property to be rented out to any man who promised her a few minutes of attention. She’d grown up seeing it happen time after time, and she had no desire to behave that way. It didn’t matter how good Eric made her feel, or how attracted she was to him. Remembering that he was waiting for an answer, she shrugged, unable to bring herself to say yes or no.
“Is it something I did?”
“No.” It wasn’t a lie. What bothered her was what she might have caused him to think, not anything he’d done.
“Is it something I can fix?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just feeling a little…surprised at myself.” It was the truth, even if it did sound stupid. She despaired as she watched his full mouth turn down, hinting at a frown. When he reached out to touch her face, her heart leapt.
He gently stroked the curve of her cheekbone, his eyes locked with hers as he tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s all right. I’ll take you home.”
****
It had only been a few days. Sometimes it felt like it had been years, and other times, only minutes since she’d last seen Eric. After their date he’d dropped her off at her apartment, as promised. At the time, she’d been grateful for the escape he’d given her. She’d gone home and attempted to collect her thoughts, but to her surprise, it hadn’t worked. They were still whirling, and the feel and taste of him were just as vivid as they had been several nights ago. She should have been glad he’d sensed her discomfort and taken her home, but instead she was almost regretful. She still longed to see him, to feel his touch and to taste him…
“Mina?”
She turned, doing her best to shove her sudden fantasy from her mind as Amy approached her. “What is it?”
Amy had a strange expression on her face, almost as if she were attempting to suppress a smile. She kept her voice low. “Chris wants to see you in his office.”
Mina’s heart froze then sped. “Chris?”
Amy nodded, her eyes gleaming.
“Do you know what it’s about?”
“No, but I’d bet anything it’s about the junior loan officer position. I mean, he’s certainly been taking his time choosing someone, don’t you think?”
Mina nodded mechanically, hope rising up in her heart even as she tried to stop it. Maybe the reason Chris wanted to see her had nothing to do with the position. Maybe there’d been a mistake with her check – that had happened once – or he needed her to sign something, or—
“You’d better go,” Amy said. “I’ll take care of things here.”
Mina drifted toward Chris’s office in a half-daze, and she couldn’t help glancing toward the cubicles as she went. Maybe she was about to be given one of her own. Soon she was standing in the open doorway to Chris’s office, feeling as if her stomach had tied itself in about a dozen knots. “Amy said you wanted to see me.”
Chris nodded. “Come on inside.” He waved a hand toward the chair across from his desk as he stood and closed the sturdy oak door.
Mina eyed it apprehensively. He almost always kept his office door wide open. What did he have to say to her that was so private? Her nervousness spiked. Maybe this was it. Maybe when she walked back out the door, she’d be a junior loan officer instead of a teller.
“Mina, there’s something serious I need to talk to you about.”
Mina nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Another employee brought something to my attention this morning, and it needs to be dealt with.”
Mina’s high hopes plummeted. This didn’t sound like a preamble to a promotion. It sounded downright ominous. “Is it something to do with me?” She wracked her mind for anything she might have done that could have gotten her into trouble at work. Nothing came up. She was a model teller – punctual, honest and attentive to her duties. Chris knew that. In fact, he’d told her that was why he was considering her for the junior loan officer position.
He nodded, gave her an unnervingly solemn look and opened a desk drawer.
Mina waited on pins and needles as he pulled out a piece of paper. “This is the issue.” He laid it on his desk and smoothed out a few crease lines that marked where it had been folded.
Mina leaned forward, her hopes that Chris was being overly dramatic and that the problem wasn’t really about her evaporating as she laid eyes on the paper. “Where did you get this?”
“Like I said, the problem was brought to my attention by another employee.”
She was silent for a moment, eyeing the paper – obviously a computer print off – and the pictures it displayed. “And this is really a problem?”
Chris nodded. “As an employee, you’re a representative of this bank. This is not an appropriate representation.”
Heat flooded Mina’s cheeks as she glanced at the paper again, unable to look away for long. “I wasn’t working at the time. I wasn’t
aware that I was expected to let my employer dictate what I do outside of work.”
Chris shook his head. “What you do on your own time is your business. But these images are being displayed publicly, and not far from here, either. Customers may see them and consider them offensive.”
Annoyance tinged Mina’s nervousness. “I doubt that anyone would notice and put two and two together.”
Chris waved his hand over the paper. “Someone already has noticed.”
Mina couldn’t help but mentally substitute ‘someone’ with ‘Ashley’. She couldn’t imagine who else among the staff would have made a big deal out of the photos. She curled her hands into fists as she remembered Ashley listening to her phone conversation with Karen. Mina hadn’t thought much of it then, but now that she considered it, Ashley had probably been plotting a way to use what she’d heard against Mina ever since that day. And apparently, she’d succeeded.
