by J. J. Bella
But Ashley knew she'd be no help to Olivia. After trying on a few dresses and settling on a simple, black cocktail dress with subtle, gold accents, she kept her phone close, switched surreptitiously through teen fashion sites for suggestions for Olivia while the girl was flipping through racks.
After a time, bags in hand, they stopped for a quick lunch of Thai food in the Castro and headed back home. During the drive back, Olivia talked endlessly about her clothes, thinking out loud about what to wear for her first day back, which wasn't for a few weeks.
Yep, thought Ashley, this girl's definitely going to be a teenager soon.
They arrived at the house a little later, the living room air filled with the subtle strains of a Mozart symphony Scott was playing through the room's speaker system as he flipped through the latest New York Times by the back window.
"There you are," said Scott as he folded the paper shut.
"Hey, dad," said Olivia, dropping her bags on the ground and plopping on the couch.
"I talked with Sarah's mom; she said that she's fine with you staying the night whenever you want to head over."
"Cool," said Olivia, her eyes on the phone in front of her face.
"You pick out something good?" asked Scott to Ashley.
"Yeah, I think so," said Ashley. "Thanks again."
Scott held up a hand. "Think nothing of it. Our reservation's at seven, so go ahead and relax until then."
Ashley did, spending the afternoon lounging her room, aimlessly checking her usual sites, her mind on the events of last night.
I can't believe I let him do that, said Ashley, biting her lip as thoughts of how good it felt for Scott to be inside of her. But I don't regret it a bit.
When the early evening arrived, she showered and got dressed, spending some time straightening her strawberry blonde hair and applying her makeup. Going through her underwear drawer, she picked out a pair of matching black lace underwear, admiring for a moment in the mirror how her body looked.
Geez, she thought, when did I become so self-obsessed? It's like I'm thinking about my audience now…
But she quickly put the idea that she was dressing for someone else out of her head. Slipping into her dress, she stepped into her heels and walked into the living room, where Scott was waiting for her, dressed in one of his usual dark, well-fitting suits.
"Wow," he said, his eyes on her body, his voice hushed.
"Looks good on me?" she asked, her voice unsure.
"You look…absolutely beautiful," he said, rising from his seat and walking towards her, his eyes locked onto her. "Let's get going. I can't wait to be the envy of the city."
Ashley felt her face go a deep red.
The two made their way to the car that was waiting for them outside, the sun descending in the sky above them. A short drive later, they were at Saison, one of the most expensive and trendiest restaurants in the city. Scott led Ashley inside, where she was left breath-taken by the sophisticated interior, not to mention the patrons, who all appeared to be cut from the same upper-crust cloth as the men and women from the parties that Scott had been taking her to.
"Cheers," said Scott, raising a glass of wine that, from what Ashley could glean from a quick glance at the menu, cost more per bottle than a week of rent at her old apartment.
"Cheers," said Ashley, tapping the rim of her glass against his.
"Well," said Scott, "I hope you've found the last few months as enjoyable as I have."
"I have," said Ashley. "It's been an…odd arrangement, to say the least, but I think it's been working out well for both of us."
"So," said Ashley, sitting up in her chair as she cast a quick glance at the bustling restaurant floor. "What're you going to say to everyone when we don't end up getting married?"
"That…I hadn't thought about. I'll probably just say you ran off with the pool cleaner."
His face stayed still and calm as he said this, and Ashley, for a moment, wondered if he was joking.
"Oh, stop," she said, giving him a playful slap on the arm, a lilting laugh escaping her lips.
"If you want me to stop, you'll need to quit encouraging me with that smile," he said.
Ashley pressed her lips together in a firm line though the brightness of her eyes betrayed that her change in expression was only superficial.
The two worked their way through their meal, which Ashley thought was just about the most delicious food she'd ever had, and all served bit-by-bit tasting-menu style. Soon, they finished their desserts, and the wine that Ashley had been slowly sipping over the course of the evening was beginning to do its work on her.
"So, what's next," she asked, her mouth curling in a sensual smile as she regarded Scott's gorgeous features, his stunningly blonde hair, the way his suit fitted his body.
What's gotten into me? she thought, I know I shouldn't…but all I want is more of what I got last night.
"I was thinking we could go for a stroll in the park," said Scott. "That is, unless you can think of a better idea."
"Oh," said Ashley, her leg stretching out under the table and brushing against his. "I can think of something."
19
Ashley pounced onto Scott as soon as he shut the door to their hotel room behind him. Her lips pressed to his, she took in his taste, his smell, the way his skin felt against hers. She ran her hands through his slicked-back blonde hair, thick strands coming loose and falling over the flawless stretch of his forehead.
Scott reciprocated, his hands holding her firmly by the hips, his lips opening, his tongue slipping into her mouth. Turning Ashley around, he pressed her against the wall, his hands sliding down and taking hold of her rear. Ashley hopped up, wrapping her legs around him, the thought of him holding her up so effortlessly arousing to her beyond explanation.
He ran his hands through her thick hair, the intricate style that it was done up in quickly reverting to a sensual mess.
"Bed," she said, the word slipping out. "Bed now."
Scott pulled back from her, looking into Ashley's eyes deeply with his own.
"You sure?" he asked, his blue eyes shimmering.
"Yes, yes, yes," she said.
She'd never been surer of anything in her life.
A sensual smile formed on Scott's lips as he took firm hold of Ashley and walked her back towards the bed. With a gentle toss, he dropped her onto the bed, Ashley landing on her back, her hair spreading out from her head where she laid, an expression of pure seduction playing on her beautiful face.
Scott moved his hands up along his torso, undoing the buttons of his dress shirt with rapid speed. Then, with a shrug of his shoulders as he pulled the clothing back, he exposed his perfect upper body. Ashley's eyes took in the glorious sight of him, paying special attention to his perfectly-sculpted pecs, his taut, toned abs, and his thick, broad shoulders. She wanted nothing more at that moment for this body to be on top of hers.
As if reading her mind, Scott moved forward onto the bed, slipping out of his pants as he climbed onto her. Ashley cast a glance down at his lower body, noting with pleasure the sight of his long cock straining against the black fabric of his boxer-briefs.
"Not fair," he said, looking down at his nearly nude body. "I think it's your turn."
"Can't argue with that," said Ashley.
Lifting her body and reaching behind her, she dragged the zipper of her dress down, pulling it as she went. Once it was down all the way, she shimmied out of it, leaving her in nothing but her matching bra and panties.
I knew there was a reason I matched today, she thought with a wry smile.
Scott took a long, slow look at her body, and Ashley noted the hunger that built in her eyes as he gazed upon her.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted you," he said, his voice a low purr.
"Well," said Ashley, narrowing her eyes seductively. "Now you have me."
"That I do," he said, running his hands along Ashley's curves.
The impatience was building i
n Ashley. She noted wryly that she'd been avoiding sex for as long as she could, but now that she was on the precipice of having it, she couldn't wait another minute. Her eyes on Scott, she watched as he reached behind her and deftly unfastened her bra and pulled it away from her body, her ample breasts now bare.
Not the first time he's done that, she thought.
Next, he slid his hands down her body once more, this time slipping his fingers behind the waistband of her panties and pulling them down. Once they were off of her body, she crossed her legs out of instinctual modesty. But once she came to her senses, she spread once again, opening herself completely to Scott.
"I want it," she said, her voice hot. "Please."
She didn't want to be teased, she didn't want just his fingers, she didn't want anything but his cock inside of her at that very instant. Ashley pulled down his boxer-briefs with almost frustrated anticipation, his cock springing out of them.
A small smile crossed her face upon seeing that it was as long, thick, and gorgeous as she imagined it to be.
"You ready?" asked Scott, his prick tantalizingly close to her.
"Yes, yes," she said, her desire overcoming the slight anxiety that she felt at being deflowered.
Scott positioned himself right on her sex, taking hold of his cock by the base. Then, with a slow, very slow motion, he slid himself into her. Ashley's eyes went wide at the feeling of being entered, the ease at which her body accommodated Scott's thickness and length. It was a tight, sharp feeling, a perfect mixture of pain and pleasure. She gasped with every inch, the feeling so intense that she thought she might not be able to stand it. But soon, he was fully sheathed inside her, and she lay there with her eyes winced tight, the pleasure flowing through her body.
"You OK?" asked Scott.
"Yes," she said. "Don't stop; please, don't stop."
With that, Scott began to move in and out of her, his length sliding inside of her body, the feeling of his thickness penetrating her completely bringing an orgasm almost immediately to her, the pleasure teetering just at the edge of the precipice. Positioning himself on his arms, the pace of Scott's thrusting increased, as did the pleasure building in Ashley. Soon, his thrusts came at a steady measure, a rhythm that was sent Ashley into a perfect trance, the coming orgasm building to a boil.
Then, it was unleashed, the feeling of pleasure wracking her body, the tendrils of ecstasy stretching out to her limbs, taking hold of every inch of her. She shrieked as the orgasm rocked her body, the feeling one of overwhelming pleasure. Soon, the orgasm began to fade, and as she finished coming, Scott withdrew from her and positioned his cock over her, with a grunt, he came hard, spilling his seed over the flat expanse of her stomach. Ashley watched as he came, the sight of his cock finishing on her being the perfect end to her first orgasm.
Then, he collapsed at her side, their chests rising and falling, the sweat on their bodies illuminated by the silver light of the moon in the night sky.
20
The next few weeks went by in a blur of pleasure. Scott and Ashley were barely able to keep their hands off of one another. Ashley was eager to learn what she'd been missing out on, and Scott was eager to show her. She learned the finer points of love-making over the remainder of the year, and Scott showed her just what it took to pleasure a man. They made love in nearly every room of the house, exploring each other's bodies with the wild abandon of teenagers who were tasting love for the first time.
And as the holidays approached, their relationship together began to take on a tone of domesticity. Scott noted that the two began to act less like a pair of business associates around each other, but more like a couple who had finally decided to move in, and were overjoyed about their decision. Olivia and Ashley grew closer, and Scott found himself wondering if he'd finally found the women who'd be able to fill the role in Olivia's life that she was so desperately missing.
They spent Christmas together, decorating the house, buying the tree, and doing secret shopping for one another. When the morning of the holiday came, they exchanged gifts. Ashley gave Scott the watch that she knew he'd had his eye on, and Scott gave Ashley a diamond tennis bracelet, her eyes welling with tears as she looked upon the gift, which she considered perfect. The three spent New Year's at a party for investors and their children, the façade of their fake marriage holding up. And when midnight hit, they kissed as Auld Lang Syne played as though it were something they'd done for years. The New Year arrived, and both of them felt nothing but eager, happy anticipation.
But the happiness wasn't to go interrupted for long.
It was the middle of January, and Scott had informed Ashley days prior that there was to be one last meeting with Michael, in which he would go over the last few details of the investment. Once the details were finalized, however, Scott's funding would be secured. But Scott seemed preoccupied with the meeting, and the day of, as they finished getting ready, Ashley asked him what the matter was.
"Michael said that there were a few surprise details that he hadn't considered," said Scott, adjusting his slim, gray tie in the mirror. "He said it was no big deal, but I'm not convinced."
Ashley stepped backward towards him, gesturing towards her unzipped dress. "Probably nothing," she said, trying to stay positive.
"Something about bringing on some additional investors. It's not unheard of, but I don't like surprises."
"You liked my surprise for you last night," said Ashley with a coy smile.
"Coming home to you lying in bed in lingerie is about the only kind of surprise I do like," he said, his voice low and sensual.
Once dressed, they got in the car and headed to Michael's offices. Once there, Michael enthusiastically greeted them in the lobby.
"Great to see you both," he said. "So, there's someone in my office that I want you to meet. He's one of the top investors in the city, and when I told him about your business plan and the software you were developing, he wanted to be a part of it. And…this is good, because some of my finances have been tied up in the last few weeks."
"Oh?" asked Scott.
"Yeah, my ex-wife. She's not done draining the life out of me just yet, it seems. But I can still put up half of what I proposed, and this investor will cover the rest, so it's not a problem."
"Assuming the investor doesn't change his mind," said Scott.
"Not going to happen," said Michael, leading them down the hall. "He's a real stand-up guy, the kind who's as good as his word."
"That's quite the endorsement," said Scott.
Ashley was getting a nervous feeling in her stomach; something wasn't right. And sure enough, when Michael opened the door, she had an explanation for her feelings.
Sitting in one of the chairs of Michael's office, his hands folded over his rotund belly, was Leonard Welsh, the boss who'd made the pass on Ashley that had cost her her job. His fleshy face lit up as soon as he saw Scott and Ashley; he didn't seem to feel a trace of embarrassment.
Michael introduced Scott and Leonard. But when it came time for Ashley and him to be introduced, Leonard held up a palm of sausage-like fingers.
"Oh, not," he said, his tone pleased. "That won't be necessary; Ashley and I are well-acquainted."
"Oh?" asked Scott, curious. "How do you mean?"
"I…used to work for Mr. Welsh," said Ashley, her tone soft and a little scared.
"Yes," said Leonard. "We had a little bit of a…misunderstanding which forced us to part ways."
Ashley cast an eye at Scott. She could see the gears turning in his head before a flash of realization crossed his expression- she knew right away that he knew what the euphemistic speaking truly meant.
"These two are engaged, I forgot to add," said Michael.
"Ah," said Leonard. "Congratulations. I'm sure you two will be very, very happy."
A moment hung in the air.
"Well," said Michael, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room. "Shall we begin?"
"I…neeed to use the ladies room,"
said Ashley. "You all start without me."
And before anyone could respond, Ashley darted out of the room and down the hall, her face hot, tears of frustration forming in her eyes. She dashed to the bathroom and ducked into a stall, slipping her phone out of her purse. Not knowing what else to do, she started typing a text to Scott.
That's the man who fired me. I can't work with him. Please, you have to understand.
Hesitating for a moment, she hit "send." She knew Scott wouldn't be able to respond, but at least he could read it. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself, put on her best smiling, professional face, and headed back to the office.
But once back in, she was confronted with the sight of the three men exchanging handshakes. It seemed the deal had already been done.
"Ashley," said Michael, his tone pleased. "Sorry to jump ahead, but there really wasn't much negotiating to be done."
"You mean, it's settled?" asked Ashley.
"We put a nice little bow on things," said Leonard, his mouth in a grin.
Ashley shot a wide-eyed glance to Scott, who was wearing an apologetic look, the kind that said: "there was nothing I could do."
Rage began to boil within Ashley.
"I'm very much looking forward to working with you," said Leonard, taking Ashley's hand shaking it softly, his palm sweaty.
"Yeah, me too," said Ashley.
Then, as if something took control of her, she burst from the room once again.
"Thanks for everything," she heard Scott say. "We'll be in touch."
Scott followed Ashley out of the hallway and into the elevator, which they rode down to the lobby in silence. Once the doors opened, Ashley sped out, walking with quick steps towards the front doors.
"Ash-" said Scott, walking behind her.
