by Aria Ford
“I can read people. And please don’t ever be scared of me, I’m quite the softie. I read romance novels because I’ve never been married and I often wonder what it’s like. I hate sleeping alone.”
Bianca tossed a chicken leg in the steel pot. “You? Sleeping alone? What woman isn’t- I’m so sorry, that’s inappropriate.”
“No, it isn’t. Who’s going to tell on me? Me? We’re just talking.”
She put the lid on the pot and let it boil. She rested one hand on the counter and pulled off the rubber band keeping her braid together. A curtain of thick, dark waves fell around her shoulders and she shyly looked in Alex’s eyes.
“Where’s the line, then?”
He seemed to ponder this. He stepped forward and stood an inch from her. “It depends.” His voice was low, and Bianca trembled. Her pulse quickened and her brain flooded with dirty thoughts.
“Depends on what?”
He placed one hand on her thigh and she gasped. He picked her up and gave her a seat on the counter. Bianca watched in astonishment, as he removed her sandals.
He smiled, and it was a charming grin. It didn’t make her feel like she was a lamb wandering into the lion’s den like most men would have. He kissed her feet and looked up at her, asking for permission.
It was easier to not say anything at all, to avoid having the moment crash and fall into an awkward mess around them. The kisses gravitated to other places, the outside of her thighs, the inside of her thighs. She hissed as he just missed her center.
He hooked his fingers into the edges of her shorts and in one motion, they hit the floor.
Bianca moaned as Alex had already made quick work of removing her dark red panties and she grabbed a handful of his hair.
“Ah, Alexander,” she moaned.
His tongue flicked, and teased her clit. “Come on, we’re on a much more familiar basis than that now, Bianca. Unless this is too far for you?”
“No,” she said, as he nipped and sucked. She stifled a scream as he tortured her by sucking on her clit.
“Oh my God,” he said, her voice was husky as she groaned, “You’re the best boss ever.”
“Let’s not talk about work.”
The pot lid jumped off of the pot as the mole boiled over. Alex jumped back, wiping his lips with his sleeve.
“Oh shit!” Bianca screeched, as she slid off of the counter and poured some of the hot water out. Alex had quickly regained his composure and Bianca pulled her shorts back on, frustrated that she hadn’t been able to come before the damn pot had boiled over.
Story of my fucking life.
Bianca lay awake in her apartment the next night. The sheets were cool in her bed and for once the draft felt nice. She had a ‘meeting’ set up with Alexander the next day but her mind raced whenever she thought about it. Were they actually going to talk about the store at all this time? After what happened on the day before, it was hard for her to take business calls seriously. She stuttered when Ashley asked her how the lunch went.
“It went fine, we still have jobs, huh? Could you organize the men’s’ section?”
Ashley shot her a look but said nothing.
Bianca’s fingers toyed with the edge of her panties, thinking about the things Alex had done to her with his tongue. Sadly, he hadn’t mentioned it the rest of the meal. He complimented her mole, and cleaned his bowl. They had a chat about the store and then he went back to his hotel, promising to work more with her before he left next week.
Bianca was typing in her tiny office when Alex squeezed back there with her. She could hear the chime of the cash register from the front counter. Ashley had been busy all day, selling sneakers and sandals, saying hello and goodbye to throngs of customers. She made a mental note to speak to Alex about introducing a commission incentive for the employees. Ashley surely deserved the extra cash for being the most loyal employee she’d ever had.
Alex smiled at her, he was dressed in a suit again instead of the more casual dress shirt and jeans he had worn the other day.
“I’ve always hated how small some of the offices were. Are you comfortable, Bianca?”
“I’m fine. What can I do for you?”
She clicked through applications on the screen and sighed at the email address that one of the applicants had listed, ‘[email protected]’.
He smiled and leaned down to look at her. “You’re all business today. Why’s that?”
She heaved another sigh and took off the glasses she used when she worked on the computer. “The only people that I get applying to work here are absolute bums. If they don’t have a record, they have crazy demands for availability. No one is willing to work past six, or on weekends besides Ashely, and I can’t keep working her so hard.”
Ales pulled out a collapsible chair and sat down next to her. “Alright, then. I’ll help you weed out the poor choices.”
Bianca paused. “Oh, you really don’t have to. I’m sure there’s something more important for you to do.”
“Like what? What’s more important than overseeing your new hires? You know that we need more reliable people. I’m giving Ashley a big bonus however, for being the only one to work at this store besides yourself.”
Bianca pulled up another applicant. “Well, that’s wonderful. I know she’ll appreciate it and she certainly deserves it. What kind of people would you prefer that I hire?”
“Driven people, people that want the job to go somewhere. We need people that are invested in the company and want to see it grow, and to want to grow with it.”
“That’s sounds awesome,” Bianca said. “However, I don’t think ‘boobyjones’ fits that bill. Nor do any of the others I’m seeing here.”
“Maybe you should adjust the ad? I’m going to talk to Human Resources at corporate and change the starting rate. I want to attract people with degrees in business preferably, but really any degree at all. It shows they have some discipline and ambition.”
Bianca nodded. “That’s a start.”
“I would offer you a raise, but I’m not entirely sure if that’s appropriate, as you have an unfair advantage over most general managers.” He smiled a wolfish smile then, and massaged her bare leg.
Why did I wear a skirt today? I knew I should have down played things so that he wouldn’t be so tempted. I can’t keep messing around with my boss, I need to end things before I jeopardize my job. But, dammit, he is so sexy, she thought, her brain at war with her body.
“What’s on your mind?” Alex pried.
“Nothing.” She smiled. “Nothing at all. Would you like to grab coffee soon? My lunch break is coming up.” Maybe out of such close quarters, she could tell Alex that getting further involved with him wasn’t a good idea.
He laughed again, and his smile was all too inviting. “Your break is whenever I say it is. You look you could use one.”
“Are we going now?”
“We are.”
He pulled her up by her hand and Bianca followed him out of her office and around the front counter. Ashley’s eyebrows shot up in a question when she saw Alex leading her out.
Bianca knew that if she didn’t get a handle on this soon, she would have zero credibility with Ashley, or any future employee. If only she could push how good her hand felt in his out of her mind.
They walked to a coffee store that Bianca loved and they sat in a dark corner and enjoyed their lattes in gargantuan red mugs.
Bianca sipped on her vanilla mocha. “How are you enjoying Puerto Rico?” she asked, trying to sound casual and keep the conversation neutral.
Alex grinned and shrugged. He was drinking a black dark roast, and as he eyed her over the rim of his mug, Bianca’s insides turned liquid.. “It’s just as beautiful as it was the first time I visited, but I would say this trip has been much more enjoyable. ”
Bianca’s heart thudded in her chest. “Why is that?”
He reached his large hand across the table and took her hand in his. “I’ve met some interes
ting people.”
He thinks I’m interesting?
“I like spending time with you and getting to know you. I like your confidence and your style. Plus, you’re one hell of an employee.”
His compliments warmed her. “You like me because I’m a good employee?”
The music in the shop changed to folk and Bianca rolled her eyes. He kissed her knuckle. “There are worse reasons to be attracted to someone. All of the qualities that most employers look for in a solid employee is what I’m attracted to in a woman. Are we going to pretend that some of my qualities that benefit my work aren’t what you’re attracted to?”
“I know that I’m attracted to you physically, what heterosexual woman wouldn’t be? But in all seriousness, Alex, what happened the other day can’t ever happen again,” Bianca said, steeling herself against his charm.
Alex smiled and raised his eyebrows. Bianca stiffened and inwardly groaned as her resistance slipped. That damn smile. Alexander had slid a hand up her skirt. “Why’s that?” he whispered. “Don’t worry, no one can see us.”
She took a shuddering breath and her face screwed up in an expression of pleasure and embarrassment. “How can I expect my employees to respect me if they think I’m just the boss’s plaything?” ”
“Well, first of all, they’re my employees. And it’s just Ashley; I doubt she’d deny you a little fun.” His fingers wandered into her as they had two days ago, and she clenched around them. He let out a low moan that only she could hear, and Bianca practically saw the dam burst on her self-restraint. She spread her legs to give him more access, and he took it. He rolled his thumb over her clit and slid a perfectly manicured finger past her lips.
This underwear is done for today, she thought, her arousal having ruined them moments ago.
She gave him an intense look. Her chest heaved, her golden skin was rosy in some places. “Fine, let’s go,” she breathed.
He smirked and stood, clearly pleased with himself for wearing her down. Alex grabbed Bianca by the hand and helped her onto legs wobbly from his attention, winking at a barista who had caught a glimpse of their indiscretion on their way out.
They nearly sprinted for three blocks to Bianca’s apartment, and he fondled her ass as they hustled up the steps. Alex shouldered her front door open and they made it to the couch.
Alex ripped off Bianca’s shirt, her skirt was around her ankles in mere seconds. He grabbed the clip holding all of her hair together and pulled it out. She smiled as her hair fell around her in waves and she tugged on his belt.
“Come on,” she urged, “Take it off.”
He unhooked her bra and began to run his tongue along her breasts, but she caught his lips in a kiss.
“Kiss me.”
“I’m in charge,” he mumbled as he kissed her roughly along her neck and she cried out because she loved it and because it would leave a bruise in the morning. They worked his pants off and his rock hard cock jutted out, sending Bianca’s thoughts into overdrive. She sat up, and with a hand on his perfect chest, she pushed him backwards.
“Give it to me,” she demanded, as her hand sought out his cock. She lowered herself to her knees in front of him and took the whole of him into her mouth.
He groaned and his fingers massaged her scalp as she ran her lips up and down his shaft. He ran his hands along her back and she took him as far into her throat as he would go. She lifted her mouth off of him only to run her tongue over his tip . Alexander all but screamed. Bianca was spurred on by his obvious enjoyment.
With a fist-full of her hair in his hands, he pulled her off of him and kissed her. His tongue danced with hers, and they shared the taste of him on their lips. In one fluid motion, he flipped her over on to her stomach, letting her breasts dangle over the back of the couch. He pushed himself inside of and they both sighed as his thick cock was fully sheathed.
She’s so tight and warm, he thought, as he rocked his hips and Bianca hummed beneath him. She moved her hips to meet his and they both groaned as he felt his orgasm asking for release.
Bianca’s body trembled each time he thrust, the perfect tip of his cock hit her G-spot every time. Just as Alex was sure he wasn’t going to be able to hold his pleasure off much longer, Bianca bucked and clenched around him, yelling out as her orgasm overtook her. Alex followed a second later, groaning loudly as he finished inside of her.
He caressed her lower back. “Are you ok?”
Bianca nearly laughed out loud. “Yeah, I’m perfect.”
Chapter Three
Ashley was training the new girl, Tatiana who wore a long, black pleated skirt and a professional peach colored blouse. Alexander’s idea of changing the ad had worked, and people with degrees in advertising and business were flocking to Alex & Boots. The store presented a new look and feel because of Alex’s visit as well. He removed the bland carpet, and put in polished hard wood floors. All of the displays were updated with fun spring designs and he was working on knocking down half of the store so that the space to wait in line could be longer, and to expand Bianca’s office.
Bianca had adjusted to feeling a small ball of anxiety bloom in her chest when she worked with her best employee. Ashley worked really hard, and she had received the raise that Alexander arranged for her, but Bianca couldn’t help the guilt she felt about why her store had received so much special attention.
I’m not sleeping with him just so that he’ll go easy on my store, she thought, while fiddling with the wall of ballet flats that were a part of the new spring design. She was actually developing feelings for Alex past the insane physical attraction. He worked for her affections, and she loved that about him.
Her eyes rolled over to Ashley, who had two women holding two boxes of sandals each waiting on her. Bianca hustled over to the counter and signaled to the women, “I can help you!”
She rung them up and sent them on their way. By the time she was done chatting with the second woman, who wanted to shower her with compliments about the new layout, it was approaching the end of her shift.
She grinned a little. Alex will be here soon.
It was Monday and they had filled each day between Friday and now with sexual exploration. Alexander had introduced Bianca to new positions, new places, and new feelings, and she wasn’t ready for the rhythm to change.
He’s going back to New York on Thursday. What will I do then? Was this just fun? She couldn’t help but feel a bit like a summer fling, and the thought made her feel hollow inside.
Later that evening, Alex rapped his knuckles on the door to Bianca’s apartment. With some struggle, she pulled it open and beamed at him. She was dressed for their date, in a white sun dress and wedged heels. Her hair framed her face perfectly, and her makeup had been done for a natural look. Twice now, Alex had woken up next to her makeup-free face and had loved it. She’s perfect all of the time, he realized.
“Hello.” He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Are you ready to go?”
She nodded and slid her hand in his. “So, where are we going again?”
“Somewhere special,” he said, as they walked down all three flights of stairs to a black, brand new town car that waited for them. He signaled to the driver when the small man started to climb out. Alex pulled open Bianca’s door instead and he slid in after her.
“We’re good to go,” he said, and they pulled off. Bianca turned to him, “What are we doing, tonight? I can’t stay out too late because I have to open the store tomorrow.”
He smiled and squeezed her fingers. “You can do anything you like when you’re with me.”
“Oh, stop.”
“Seriously. Just relax and enjoy the ride.” His hands lazily rubbed her thigh and he rested his head on top of hers. “You can fall asleep, it might be a while before we get there.”
“Alex! Come on, I can’t do anything too big, I have to be up by 4:30 tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t want you to worry about that.”
There was
an ear-splitting sound as Bianca was jolted awake. Her legs were stretched out on top of Alexander’s and he was wide awake, reading a novel. Frantically, she looked around the car and peeked out of the windows to see the sun retiring for the night.
“Did I sleep through our whole date?” she asked, horrified.
Instead of answering, Alex opened the door and slid out of the car, and she slid out after him. The streets were cobblestone and it was warmer and the air clung like the adhesive on an envelope.
“Where are we?” she asked.
He grinned and swung his arm out in a presentative gesture. “We’re in San Juan, one of the most beautiful places in Puerto Rico.”
The car pulled off and Alex steered her down the streets. “The car will come back for us later. I wanted to bring you somewhere magical.”
“You believe in magic?” she prompted, as they walked past a fountain gushing with water and decorated with stones.
“I believe in good fortune.” He squeezed her hand, and Bianca felt a wave of nervousness climb over her.
Is this a farewell date? It seemed a rather grand gesture, which had her wondering if this was the brush-off she’d been dreading.
“So, once when I visited Puerto Rico, I ate at this amazing restaurant. They made their own tortillas, the service was magnificent.”
She almost laughed. “You know all of the restaurants here make their own tortillas. You didn’t need to take me all the way to San Juan for that.”
He just smiled and led her around another corner to a dimly lit, very quaint street. Tucked away, almost as if in secret, was a slim black door with bold silver lettering that read “Fernandos”.
She turned to him. “This is so nice but it must cost a fortune. I’m embarrassingly simply compared to most women.”
“It’s not about money,” he insisted. “I wanted to show you one of my favorite places Bianca.”
Alex strode up to the door and knocked. A small girl dressed in a colorful skirt peppered with oranges and blues pulled the door open and smiled. Her blonde hair fell around her face in a professional but alluring way.
