“Look, Louise. I can handle this on my own. I don’t want you letting yourself get worse because of a silly business meeting. I’ll make up an excuse to Roger if you want to leave right now.” Jack’s voice was soft and calming. I looked at his concerned face and I realized that I would never have imagined him speaking like this. I would have never pictured Jack Gowler being concerned about anything or anyone other than himself.
I shook my head vigorously again. “I’m fine. I’ll be all right. I can manage for now at least,” I said and he nodded his head.
“Okay, I guess we better get back there. Can’t leave him alone for too long. Roger Tracker has the attention span of a sparrow,” he said and we both smiled at each other.
“Thank you, Jack,” I squeaked before he turned from me. He was grinning at me again. “And I’m sorry that I behaved so badly last evening. It was highly unprofessional of me,” I added.
“It’s okay. You were clearly not yourself because of the fever,” he replied. Before I could add anything else, Jack turned and started walking back towards our table.
Roger stood up again when I approached and he held the chair out for me. I sat down across the table from Jack and I realized that I was staring at him.
“I’m glad we can finally do this, Roger. The three of us meeting face-to-face will hopefully iron out any of the creases in this deal,” Jack began. His voice boomed. He was back to being his charming, confident self. Roger nodded his head and then glanced at me with a smile.
“Potential deal,” Roger corrected and I smiled back at him.
“Of course,” I replied graciously.
“We’ll see about that!” Jack added.
I could sense that Roger Tracker was going to be a hard nut to crack, and suddenly, I was glad that I had Jack as support. I would have never publicly admitted that I appreciated his help, but if I was being honest with myself, I would never have been able to handle this alone. I needed Jack just as much as he needed me.
Chapter 8 - Jack
Despite the fact that she was unwell, Louise had done a good job. Roger Tracker was going to be leaving the bar knowing that Louise and I were working together, we were a solid team, and we were determined to have Medusa on board and meet its every requirement.
It had turned out to be a semi-formal meeting where Roger, Louise, and I joked and spoke freely. He told us the problems Medusa were having and Louise and I explained how Prisma, one of the leading financial consultancy firms in the country, could solve those problems for him.
For every curveball that Roger threw at us, either Louise or I had a response to it. He was visibly impressed, and I was impressed with Louise. I never had any doubts regarding her capabilities as an expert negotiator, but she had impressed me by the way she had handled herself even though I could see the tiredness in her eyes.
On the other hand, it was obvious that Roger was hitting on Louise at the same time. She flirted back with him casually, and I couldn’t exactly decipher if she was interested in him or the deal. Either way, they made a good-looking couple and an ideal partnership. I couldn’t help but be jealous. So, when Roger decided to call it a night and made to leave, I was half expecting him to invite Louise to drinks in private. When he didn’t, I was relieved. Roger shook my hand before he left and exchanged a close hug with Louise. We sat back down when he walked away. Louise sighed deeply and closed her eyes.
“You did good, Louise,” I said and she fluttered her eyelashes open. What was it about this woman that got my adrenaline pumping? Did I want her just because I knew I couldn’t have her? It was difficult to tell, and there was only one way to find out.
Louise smiled and nodded her head. “I guess you could say the same about yourself,” she replied, arching one perfectly-shaped brown eyebrow.
“Is that an actual compliment? From Louise Downing to Jack Gowler?” I asked with a laugh. Her cheeks flushed again and all I wanted to do was kiss her.
“I’m giving credit where credit is due, that’s all.” She shook her head and looked away from me.
“Okay. Anyway, do you need a ride home? You look like you need to get into bed as soon as possible,” I said, searching her wide blue eyes.
Louise pinched her nose in a mock-offended way. “Are you saying I look terrible?” she asked. There was a laugh in her voice as she spoke.
“No, you could never look terrible. I’m sure you know that!” I remarked.
Still blushing, Louise stood up from her chair and I did the same. She bit down on her lip and met my eyes again. “All right. I’ll allow you to drive me home. Just this once and only because I’m feeling unwell,” she said and picked up her purse.
“I’m honored that you have chosen me as your chauffeur,” I retorted and we both smiled at each other. Louise even giggled.
Before we walked away from the table, I tried to recall how many martinis she’d had. Two, maybe three? Not enough to get her drunk. What other explanation was there for how relaxed she was around me? If she wasn’t drunk, was it because she was hopped up on pills? This was not normal Louise behavior. She hadn’t even tried to slap me yet!
The valet brought my car around to the front of the cocktail bar and we got in. Louise’s strong floral perfume filled my car and made me nearly dizzy with desire for her.
“You know my address?” she asked as I revved up the engine.
This was not something I could have predicted. Louise Downing in my car! Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t come near any of my possessions in case she got infected with my low-class virus.
“Yes, Louise, I know where you live,” I told her as I started driving in the direction of her apartment building, which wasn’t too far from the bar.
Louise sank into my leather seat and stared out of the window as I drove. She had made herself comfortable in my car and it made me happy for some reason. Neither of us spoke till I was parking the car outside her building ten minutes later. It had been a strangely nice night. Louise hadn’t threatened me or tried to get me fired tonight. We were making some sort of progress!
I killed the engine and remained sitting in my seat, and Louise slowly turned her face towards me. Her blue eyes were glowing; her plump lips were set firmly in a line. I knew there was something on her mind and that she was struggling to get the words out.
“What are you going to do now?” she asked in a soft sultry voice. Her eyelids were heavy and drooping.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Go back home, I guess. It’s pretty late,” I replied and watched her as she watched me back.
“I thought you were some kind of party animal. Isn’t this supposed to be early for you?” she asked with a laugh. I laughed too but I was shaking my head.
“Not really. I guess I’m getting old. I’m just going to go home and ruin your impression of me,” I replied as Louise licked her lips.
“Unless you want to come up?” she suggested and clamped her mouth shut like she had said something blasphemous. I was confused by what she had just said. Had I heard her right? Did Louise just ask if I wanted to go up to her apartment?
I said nothing. Instead, I opened my door and stepped out, running around to her side so I could hold her door open too. I wasn’t going to give her the chance to change her mind.
Chapter 9 - Louise
I wasn’t sure why I’d invited Jack up to my apartment, but here he was, following me up the stairs. I jiggled the keys in the lock and threw the door open. I sensed him step into my apartment behind me. I flipped the lights on, suddenly aware that I was completely alone with him.
My headache was gone. I was weak in the knees, but not because of a fever. I turned around to face him and my cheeks were burning up. Jack’s eyes flitted around my apartment. He was standing a few feet away from me with his hands stuck deep into the pockets of his tailored pants.
“Nice place,” he commented and walked into my living room without invitation. I followed him there, suddenly very worried about what was going to happ
en. I didn’t have a plan. I was in a panic.
I had invited him up because I didn’t want the night to end. Jack had surprised me by being a complete gentleman. He was concerned for my health and had been a great support system throughout the meeting with Roger. I had realized tonight that he wasn’t an arrogant man, and he didn’t treat me any differently just because I was a woman in a male-dominated industry.
However, none of those reasons were good enough to invite him to my apartment. The real reason for that was because I was attracted to him. Because I had been jealous of that redhead and I was curious to find out what would happen if we were alone together.
Now I was more than curious. I was afraid of what might happen.
Jack was peering at the paintings hanging on the walls of my living room. “All of these have been painted by Rose Downing. I assume that’s your sister?” he turned to me.
I had my hands nervously clasped together. I nodded my head. Suddenly, I had lost my voice and I couldn’t speak.
“She’s very talented,” Jack commented and walked over to a bone-china vase in the middle of my coffee table. He stroked it with his forefinger like he was checking how brittle it was. I was staring at him, afraid of what he was going to do next.
Jack looked up at me abruptly and caught me staring. “I can leave if you think this is a mistake,” he said, catching my eye.
I shook my head vigorously and tried to force a smile on my face. “No, I just thought maybe we could go over a game-plan for Medusa. That’s all,” I said as he took a few steps towards me.
“Really? I thought you had something else in mind,” he said in a deep husky voice that I was finding harder and harder to resist.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I murmured as he came up close to me and held my gaze.
“I think, Louise, that you know exactly what I’m talking about,” he said.
Breathing in deeply, he held out a hand. With his forefinger, he stroked my cheek the same way he had stroked the body of the vase. I felt goosebumps erupt on my arms, on the back of my neck. It was like my whole body was on fire, only this time, I didn’t have a fever.
I should have stepped away from him. I should have kicked him out of my apartment for touching me, but the truth was that I liked the way he touched me. I liked the brush of his rough, strong fingers against my cheek.
My eyelids drooped as he continued stroking my cheek. I could feel his finger caress my lips, my chin, and then travel down to my neck. Jack had stepped up close to me. I could feel his hot breath falling on my face. The warmth of his body was warming me too. I couldn’t push him away. I was helpless in his presence.
“Louise, open your eyes,” he grumbled and I did as I was told.
I opened my eyes to see him standing over me, his green eyes focused on my face, burning a hole in my eyes.
“You invited me here and I followed, but I’m giving you a chance now to change your mind,” he said in an animalistic, threatening growl. His fingers were winding around my slender neck and I could feel the pressure of his hand taking a hold of me.
I said nothing. I was under his spell. I couldn’t even make myself move an inch away from him.
“Good girl,” he grunted before he leaned his face towards mine and our lips met in a sizzle.
I gasped as his tongue roughly parted my mouth and slipped in. His hands were on my hips, pulling me close with a thud to his chest. I was sinking into him. I couldn’t even remember who he was, or who I was . . . All I knew was this feeling of being wrapped up in his arms, of having his tongue inside my mouth.
Jack kissed me deeply – slowly but hungrily. His tongue darted in and out of my mouth while our lips remained fused together. My breasts were pressed up against his chest and I could feel his heart beating wildly. I was gasping for air, but I didn’t want the kiss to end. I hadn’t even realized how desperately I wanted him to kiss me. How long had I been waiting for this?
Jack drew himself away, smacking his lips from mine. I was panting for breath. His green eyes were dark and narrowed and he was watching me from under his heavy, hooded eyelids. His hands released my hips, but I didn’t step away from him. Now that I’d experienced what kissing Jack Gowler was like, it wasn’t going to be enough.
***
His hands traveled to my back and I could feel his fingers pulling down the zip on my dress. I gasped as my breasts were freed and the zip traveled down further. Jack’s eyes remained on me. He was watching my every move. I couldn’t believe this was happening. That I was allowing him to undress me. That I wanted him to undress me! The farther the zip went down, the looser my dress became till the straps fell away from my shoulders.
I gulped, staring at him hungrily and then I reached for the buttons on his shirt. Jack’s hand came up, stopping me from unbuttoning his shirt.
“Your turn first,” he said with a soft grin on his face. I allowed my hands to drop away. I was like putty in his hands. He was allowed to do whatever he pleased with me.
Jack’s hands were warm when he cupped my shoulders, and slowly, he helped my dress down, sliding it over my hips till it fell down to my ankles. I was standing in front of him in nothing but my black lace bra and panties and surprisingly, I wasn’t self-conscious.
I liked the way he looked at me – the way his eyes grew wide when he focused on my small breasts. He was gazing at them hungrily.
“Do you know how fucking beautiful you are, Louise?” he growled. Before I could respond, he grabbed me by my hips and pulled me to himself again.
I gasped as his tongue dove into my mouth. This time, I was braver. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held onto him. My leg lifted up, leaning on his body for support as his tongue slid deep down my mouth, exploring me.
His fingers were on my bare hips, then up my back, and soon he was undoing my hair. My smooth blond hair came tumbling down around my shoulders as he swayed me in his arms. With no clothes acting as a barrier now, I could feel the throbbing erection in his pants. I knew he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
We kissed till my lips throbbed achingly –till they were swollen and I couldn’t breathe anymore. Then, Jack drew himself away and, lifting me up in his strong arms, he carried me to my couch.
I found myself giggling as he threw me down. My body was tight with desire; every cell of my being ached for him. For his tongue and his hands and his cock. I felt like I would never get enough of him.
Jack stretched me out on the couch and stood over me. My legs were dangling off the edge and slowly, he started parting them. My breath was caught in my throat. He was fully dressed while I was practically naked.
His hands cupped my heaving breasts, and he squeezed them and toyed with my erect nipples through the lace of the bra. I arched my back, raising my hips up towards him because I couldn’t wait to stroke my body against his. I wanted to see him naked. I had fantasized so many times about his body – about what was hidden underneath those clothes. He was torturing me by keeping all those clothes on!
Jack’s hands were on my panties and he pulled the flimsy material till I heard it rip. He was ripping my panties away! He didn’t even apologize! Within seconds, I was naked. My throbbing wet pussy was on full display for him and he stretched my legs apart so he could wedge himself between my knees.
I gasped and rolled my hips. There were tight knots in my belly and I was going crazy waiting for a release. I was desperate for one.
Jack clenched his jaws. I saw the way his eyes had darkened as he reached for my folds. “You’re wet for me,” he grunted, and I felt the pressure of his rough warm fingers on my clit. He was rubbing it, teasing it, stroking me into a state of dizziness. I wanted his cock. I wanted to see him naked, but Jack wasn’t about to stop what he was doing. He was going to get what he wanted.
His fingers toyed with my folds until, slowly, I felt the pressure of his forefinger slide into my pussy. I gasped again, lifting myself up, but he gently pushed my shoulder back w
ith his other hand. He wanted me on my back. He didn’t want to meet with resistance.
I looked up at the ceiling, allowing myself to slip into a state of delicious subconsciousness. His thick finger slid deeper and deeper into my pussy and I quaked with pleasure. His thumb was on my clit, still stroking it, still teasing me to the edge of my orgasm. His forefinger was joined by his middle finger, while he grabbed my left breast with his other hand. Every nerve of my body was rioting against my mind. His fingers playing with my nipple, his thumb rubbing my clit, and two fingers in my pussy. I knew I was going to come any moment.
“I want to see you come,” he growled. It was almost a command. Jack’s thrusts into my pussy became harder and stronger. I could feel his fingers sliding in and pulling out of my pussy. My clit throbbed under his thumb and I bit down on my lip so that I wouldn’t scream.
But I couldn’t control myself any longer. I screamed and moaned as my juices flooded out of me. My whole body shook and vibrated from the shuddering reaction of my orgasm. Jack didn’t stop thrusting his fingers into me. I couldn’t stop moving. My toes curled and I clutched the leather of my sofa as I came wildly.
I felt like I was floating with Jack Gowler wedged between my knees, making me feel good — better than any man had been able to before. He hadn’t even undressed. He was fully suited-up and had just made me come like it was second nature to him.
I tried to protest against my own orgasm as my sticky warm juices dribbled out of my pussy. I didn’t push Jack away. The feeling of his fingers inside me was driving me crazy with pleasure, even though I didn’t want to feel that way.
It was only when my orgasm began to ebb away that common sense returned to me. It was like a slap in my face. Suddenly, I had realized what I’d just done.
Chapter 10 - Jack
It was like I was in a daze. Once I was in Louise’s apartment, my mind had gone blank. Everything I did was purely instinctual. My body had taken the lead and I had followed.
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