by L. P. Dover
We laid there for about an hour, just breathing and touching each other in pure silence; it was relaxing and soon I found myself slowly closing my eyes to the night. However, the uncertainty in Brett’s voice when he whispered in my ear woke me up.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
When I opened my eyes, the glow from the candles lit up only one side of his face while the other was completely hidden. It made the haunted look in his eyes look even more daunting.
“Okay, is something wrong?” I asked softly, gazing up at him.
He blew out a breath and shook his head. “No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to talk to you about what my grandmother said to you when you were over there the other day.”
My eyes went wide and I bit my lip. “How do you know what she said to me?”
Sadly, he smiled half-heartedly “Because she told me. I’m shocked you haven’t asked me about it.”
I took his face in my hands and rubbed my thumbs over the tense muscles in his jaw. “I wanted you to feel comfortable confiding in me. I hoped one day you would open up and tell me yourself.”
Brett tilted his face and pressed his warm lips to the palm of my hand. “I knew eventually I would tell you, but it was a dark time in my past that I’ve tried every day to forget. You know how my mom died, but you don’t know why.”
“I don’t,” I agreed, shaking my head gently.
He took a deep breath, and without stopping, he explained the whole story of his tragic past, “My mother loved my father, and in some ways I guess my father loved my mother. However, there came a time when he didn’t love enough. When she found out he cheated on her everything went to shit. She stopped smiling and stopped living until one day everything changed. I remember it all so clear, too. It was the day of the big football game and I was pumped, being the quarterback and all. The championship was riding on my shoulders. Before I left for school, my mother smiled and hugged me, and told me how much she loved me. I thought she was coming around, but I was wrong.”
Tears pooled in my eyes because I could just imagine a young Brett falling to pieces when he found out his mother had just taken her life. Looking away, Brett continued baring his soul. “Anyway, I went to school and when I came back there were police cars everywhere and an ambulance. My dad was in the front yard with his head hung low while my grandmother screamed and sobbed. It was the worst day of my life.”
“Your grandmother says you don’t speak to your dad. Will you ever talk to him again?” I asked warily.
Brett shrugged halfheartedly, but I could see the torment in his eyes at the mention of his father. “I don’t know. I blamed him for it, and I still do, but I also blame my mother for only thinking of herself and ending it the way she did. It was the coward’s way out.”
A tear fell down his cheek. I quickly brushed it away with my thumb, and tried to kiss away his pain. “Yes, it was, but you know she had to love you.”
He smiled and blinked away the moisture in his eyes. “I know she did, but there was a point to me telling you all of this. I know you have issues with trust, but I will never do what my father did. I love you, Melissa, and I’ve seen firsthand what my mother went through. I vowed never to do that to a woman and I will always hold up that end of the bargain. I trust you with my life and soul. I promise to always be honest with you, and I trust that you will be the same way with me.”
His words hit me straight through the heart. I let the tears flow freely; yes I was sad hearing the story of his mother, but I was more troubled by his words of trust and honesty. He would for sure be angry at me for keeping my secrets and deceiving him, but hopefully, he would understand why I did it.
I just need to figure out how I’m going to tell him … and when.
Seventeen
Once the bell rang, signaling it was lunch time, I pulled out my phone and laid it on my desk waiting for Brett’s call. He always called at lunch and he’d never failed to do it right on time. Ever since Brett told me about his mother and gave me that speech about truth and honesty, I’d pretty much lost my appetite. I could barely eat because of the stress. I wasn’t happy with keeping secrets from him, but I was clueless on how to approach it. In addition, over the past week my body wasn’t taking too well with the lack of sleep.
Right on time, my phone rang with Brett’s incoming call. “Hey babe,” I answered cheerfully.
“Hey, what are you doing?” he asked. I could hear car horns in the background so I knew he couldn’t be in his office.
“I was just waiting on your call and getting ready to eat my apple. Are you not at work?”
He sighed, and I could just picture him running his fingers through his dark, brown hair. “No, I’m not. Listen, you need to eat more. I don’t know what you’re doing or what’s wrong, but you’re starting to worry me. In just a week I can tell you’ve lost weight. Is there something going on I should know about?”
Sighing, I laid my head down on my desk. I just wanted to tell him and get it over with, but I couldn’t do it on the phone. Instead, I reassured him, “I’m fine, Brett. I just haven’t had an appetite these days. I promise to eat more later. So where are you headed?”
“I’m going over to my place to pack a bag for a couple of days. I have to go to Seattle for a meeting with a potential client.”
“Wow,” I muttered, amazed. “You’re getting out there, aren’t you?”
Brett laughed. “Yes, I am, but it’s a good thing. So anyway, I was wondering if you could get away for a few minutes right now.”
Groaning, I looked at the clock. I only had twenty minutes left until my next class.
“I can’t, babe. I don’t have time to go all the way to your place and be back before my next class. What time does your flight leave?”
“At five-thirty, but I plan on leaving the office around four,” he remarked, sounding disappointed.
“I tell you what … how about I come to your office right after school lets out. It’ll give me almost an hour with you before you have to leave. That way I can see you before you go,” I suggested.
I could just picture the smile on his face. “I’d love that. There’s a lot we can do in an hour you know,” he said slyly. “Oh yeah, I’ll give Jake in security your name so you can park in the employee parking deck. That way you can come straight up. I’m on the fifty-ninth floor.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled. “Sounds good, babe. Now let me go so I can eat my lunch and get ready for my next class.”
“All right, firecracker, I’ll see you soon. I love you.”
Before hanging up the phone I murmured, “I love you, too. I’ll get there as fast as I can after work.”
My heart ached in my chest because now I was going to have to wait yet another few days before I could come clean to Brett. Oh, please let me be able to hold out that long.
After school let out at South Point High, my phone buzzed with an incoming text as I was walking to my car.
Daniel: Can you meet me this afternoon?
Groaning, I texted him back.
Me: Can’t … I’m busy.
Daniel: I’m stopping by your house tonight then. We need to talk.
We need to talk? Yeah … right.
I groaned and griped to myself the whole twenty minutes it took to get to Brett’s office. I was a stubborn woman, but no one could beat the stubbornness level that Daniel had. I just wouldn’t answer the door if he came over. I’m sure he’ll love that.
When I pulled into the parking deck, the man I assumed was Jake came up to my window, so I rolled it down. He was probably mid-fifties with his salt and pepper cropped hair, and stout with muscle in his security uniform. He looked like he might’ve been ex-military at one point or another.
Leaning into the window, he smiled and greeted me, “I’m assuming you’re Ms. Ashford?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.
He opened the gate and motioned me past with a wave of his hand. “Then you may proceed young la
dy.”
I saw Brett’s Jeep up ahead by the elevators, so I parked right next to him and got out of the car. My phone said I had only forty minutes to spend with him, so I rushed up to the elevator and pressed the button for the fifty-ninth floor. I was able to ride the elevator all the way to the top without having to stop. Once the doors opened, I had no clue which way to go so I approached the massive receptionist desk in the center of the giant lounge. The lady behind the desk was probably in her sixties with the sweetest smile of anyone I’d ever seen.
“Why hello there,” she greeted me, standing up. “I remember you from the party a few weeks ago. You’re Melissa, right? I’m Rebecca, Mr. Matthews assistant.” She extended her hand and I shook it firmly. “Mr. Walker told me you were coming.”
Blushing, I grinned and pulled back my hand. “Yes, ma’am. I wanted to see him before he left to go to Seattle, but I have no clue which way his office is,” I explained sheepishly.
“Oh, no problem, sweetheart.” She pointed to the hallway to the left and said, “His office is down that way, last door on the left.”
“Thank you, Rebecca.”
Grinning, she winked at me and sat back down at her desk. “You’re welcome, darling.”
Not wasting any more time, I walked briskly down the hall until I saw the last door on the left. His name was on the outside of the door, but I didn’t know if I should knock or just walk in. I’d never visited him before at work so I had no clue; I decided to knock.
“Come in,” he called out.
Opening the door, I smiled when I stuck my head through the side. “Hey, babe, I made it.” The second I stepped into his office my eyes went wide in wonder as my gaze searched his monstrosity of an office.
“Wow, the view is amazing,” I breathed in awe. I marched over to the window and peered out at what was one of the largest cities in North Carolina with its tall buildings and bustling streets. Holy crap, his office was amazing. He even had his own bathroom.
Brett beamed at me and immediately got up from his desk to capture me in his arms. He looked wonderful in his suit with his tie unkempt around his neck; I could tell he’d had a busy morning. Laying my head down on his chest, I breathed in his familiar and warm scent. I sighed when he held me tighter.
“I’m not going to know what to do without you these next couple of days. Why don’t you come with me? Surely, you can find a substitute, right?”
Exasperated, I pulled back and laughed at his teasing smile. “I wish I could go with you, Brett. I’ve gotten so used to you making my coffee in the mornings. I’m not going to know what to do without you.”
“Is that all you love me for? To make your coffee?” he quipped.
I rolled my eyes and bit my lip. “No, not exactly, but I’m sure you can think of other things I love about you.”
Smiling, he dipped his head lower. “I have some ideas about that, but why don’t you let me show you some of the things I love about you.”
Smirking, I glanced around his office and then back to him, knowing exactly what he wanted to do. The problem was that there weren’t many places that would be comfortable, unless we did it on the …
“If you don’t mind my asking, where do you plan on showing me how much you love me?” I questioned, raising my brow.
His smile grew wider as he walked back toward the door and locked it. “I’m sure we can come up with something,” he teased. Stalking over to me, I squealed when he picked me up and carried me over to his desk. Setting me down, I was amazed to see that it was uncluttered and completely devoid of any paper whatsoever.
Giggling, I crossed my arms over my chest. “You were planning this weren’t you? No one’s desk is ever this empty, especially someone who works as much as you.”
He chuckled. “It was either clear off my desk or we scatter everything on the floor. I thought I would make it less messy.”
“Good call,” I agreed with a wink of my eye. “But we don’t have much time.”
“No worries, firecracker. That’s why I’m going to fuck you hard and fast,” he promised in his deep, sultry voice.
My breath hitched and my clit tightened as the words left his mouth; it wasn’t going to take me long to get off once he started. Unbuttoning my skirt, he slowly lowered it over my hips and lifted me up so he could slide it the rest of the way down. While he unbuttoned his shirt and pants, I worked on the rest of my clothes, slowly sliding off my silky top and unhooking my bra. After everything was said and done, all I had left on was a pair of thongs, but Brett ripped them off the second he saw them.
“Those were from Victoria’s Secret,” I scolded him playfully. “You’re going to need to start buying me underwear from all the pairs you keep ripping off my body.”
Taking my bottom lip in his mouth, he sucked it hard. “I like you better without them.”
Gripping my thighs with his large hands, he roughly pulled me across the desk so that my legs were spread apart and open for him. His cock was hard and glistening at the tip. I licked my lips, wanting nothing more than to suck that salty drop from the top. Instead, he plunged inside me and took my nipple in his mouth all at one time while grasping my hips in his firm grip. It was a rush of sensations that almost had me screaming his name. Luckily he masked my cries with his mouth, closing it over mine.
Brett pulled back and chuckled. “Are you trying to get us caught?”
“I couldn’t help it,” I breathed. “You’re killing me.”
Grabbing the hair at the nape of my neck, he tangled his fingers in my tresses and pulled, nipping my neck with his teeth. “Same here, firecracker. You’re so wet and closing in around me so tight I don’t think I can hold off.”
Folding my arms around his shoulders, I locked on tighter to his body and thrust my hips along with his. Brett grunted and growled in my ear, “Fuck … Melissa, I’m gonna come if you keep doing that.”
Grinding my hips harder, I tangled my tongue with his while I milked him for all he had, feeling the pulsing in his cock that always signaled the coming of his release. My orgasm came hot and swift at the same time. He dug his fingers into my hips and pumped his own pleasure inside my body until we both collapsed onto the desk.
Leaning his forehead to mine, his breath was ragged against my lips. “Damn, that felt good. How I will ever get enough of you is beyond me.” He pulled out gently and helped me off the desk by taking my hand.
“Let’s just hope it stays that way,” I whispered. Especially, after I tell you my secret, I thought.
Pulling on his pants and glaring at me, he asked, “Why wouldn’t it stay that way? I’m going to warn you now, you’re not getting rid of me so easily.”
Half-heartedly, I smiled and nodded. Before I could respond a loud knock came at the door. “Shit,” I hissed, scrambling around to gather my clothes.
Brett clambered around and hastily put his clothes on while I gathered up all of mine and locked myself in the bathroom. “Do you have everything you need in there?” he whispered by the bathroom door.
“Yeah, I got everything,” I said, breathlessly. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
He laughed low. “Okay, baby. That was close, wasn’t it?”
I shook my head and grinned at myself in the mirror. “Yes it was, now answer the door! I’ll be out in just one second.”
Chuckling, I could hear Brett putting papers back on his desk and then the sound of the door opening. A man’s voice spoke out, but both his and Brett’s voice were muffled by the door; it was probably Galen, his boss. Once I washed up and put on my clothes, I straightened my hair by running my fingers through it and opened the door. One thing was for certain … I wasn’t prepared for who I saw.
Eighteen
The second I walked out of the bathroom, my heart stopped and my eyes went wide. Daniel’s narrowed gaze scrutinized my ruffled appearance and his cheeks flushed in anger. Shit!
“Why hello again, Melissa. It is Melissa, right?” Daniel asked, trying hard to
mask his irritation.
It took all I had not to roll my eyes and cuss at him, but I tilted my lips in a forced smile and answered him, “Yes, it’s Melissa.” It was short and clipped, but I didn’t feel like saying anything else. Thankfully, Brett took over.
“Is there something I can do for you, Mr. O’Briene?” Brett asked politely. His gaze lingered over to me, but I could already feel the tension in the room building and I didn’t want him to see me hesitate. I wanted out of there … fast.
Daniel sidled further in the room and took a seat in one of the chairs. “Actually, there is,” he began. “I thought maybe we could go out for drinks tonight with some of my friends. I figured we could talk about our next step.” He turned to me and said, “You can come too if you want.”
“I’m sorry but I can’t,” I muttered blandly.
“Unfortunately, neither can I,” Brett said to him as well. “I have to leave in ten minutes to catch a flight to Seattle.”
Daniel smiled and stood, tilting his head to the side. “Ah, another client?” When Brett nodded he continued, “That’s great news by the way. Maybe when you come back we can go for drinks. I know we aren’t supposed to start until December, but I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in mind and maybe getting a head start.”
Brett held out his hand. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll call you when I get back into town.”
Daniel took Brett’s hand and shook it, but not before turning a wolfish glare my way. “So how long will you be gone on this business trip?”
My instincts went on full alert … he was up to something. Brett furrowed his brow and pursed his lips. “I’m not too sure how long I’ll be gone. It’s looking like it’ll be three days at most.”
Daniel nodded and turned on his heel toward the door. “Well, all right, Mr. Walker. I’ll leave you to it. Have a safe trip, and I’ll speak to you when you get back.” He snuck a quick glance at me before walking out the door with a smirk on his face.
