by Ford, Mia
“Yes, we do. That’s all we should have talked about,” she said and bent forward to pick up her dress. My boner was beginning to weaken. I could feel my temples beginning to throb. The frustration of not having her completely was setting in, as I realized that she was about to leave.
“Why did you come to my house then?” I asked her, and recognized the bubbling rage in my voice. I had expected Beverley to be a tease, but now I was simply angry. She whipped her head around to look at me. I was still completely naked, and sitting on folded knees, while she was getting dressed.
“Because I wanted to tell you in person that I’ve decided to sell the company,” she said and I shook my head. I didn’t believe her. I reached for my pants and stood up to slide them up my legs. She was in the process of zipping up her dress when I did up my pants.
“That’s bullshit and you know it,” I said in a low gruff voice.
“What are you talking about?” she said as she ran her fingers through her hair. Even though my boner was gone by now, I could still feel my cock throbbing in my pants. I was desperate for her to not leave. I wanted to see this through. I knew I wouldn’t have any peace of mind till I had her completely.
“You didn’t just come here to tell me that. You could have called, emailed, sent your lawyers to tell me that,” I said and clenched my jaw. Beverley was fully dressed now. The blue dress she was wearing made her cleavage pop out and I couldn’t help but look at her breasts. I was so close to having them. I couldn’t stop my brain from imagining her being naked again.
“I wanted to see your house. See how much wealth you’ve amassed,” she said in a sour tone. I narrowed my eyes at her.
“So, this is about money? I’d never imagined you to be about money, Beverley,” I said and she puckered her mouth. In a way that made me want to grab her and kiss her lips again.
“Again, you think you know me but you don’t Grant,” she said and crossed her arms over her breasts. She was standing with her hip cocked to one side. In that blue dress, with her long legs and high heeled shoes…after I’d just tasted her in my mouth. It was difficult to compare her to the nerdy tech geek I went to college with.
“So, it is about the money? You wanted to see how much money I have?” I asked her and she rolled her eyes. It was almost comical, how hard she was trying to pretend that she hated me. Even though she had been screaming my name just minutes ago and begging me to not stop making her come. It made me smile.
“No, okay, it isn’t about the money,” she said and I arched an eyebrow.
“So, why did you come here? Don’t try and bullshit me again and tell me you came here for business talk,” I said and I walked towards her.
To my surprise, she stepped away from me. Her arms fell away and she licked her lips.
“I don’t know why I did, but I shouldn’t have,” she said. I stopped in my tracks when she started inching away from me again, but I wanted to touch her. My hands almost shook with the physical force of my desire for her. I couldn’t remember the last time I wanted to be inside a woman so badly.
“Okay, so let’s talk it over then,” I said, dropping my voice to a lower decibel. She rolled her eyes again.
“You think you can just seduce me into getting your way? Unfortunately for you, Grant, I’m not like all the other women you sleep with,” she said and for some reason that made me smile. It was a hint at her feelings towards my sex life. She was jealous.
“Right now, Beverley, there is no one else around us. So, let’s just talk about you and me,” I said and held my smile. She shook her head, like she was trying to convince herself and not me.
“There is nothing to talk about. I just told you that I don’t want to work with you,” she said and I took in a sharp breath.
“I didn’t mean talk about work, I meant talk about you and me and what happened here,” I said and she shoved past me abruptly, walking quickly towards my front door.
“What happened was a mistake, and I shouldn’t have come over here,” she said and placed a hand on my doorknob.
I followed her with my eyes and clenched my jaw. I could still feel the frustration of not having her running through my veins. It was making me light headed and mad with her.
“Go then,” I said, with a bitter tone in my voice. She threw me a look of fury and turned the knob and pulled the door open.
“My lawyers will be in touch,” she said as she stepped out and shut the door gently behind her.
I stood watching her as her heels clicked against the brick pathway. She was hurrying away towards the main road where she’d probably parked her car. In the dark, she eventually turned into a distant blue haze as she walked and I picked up the glass and drank the leftover whiskey in one large gulp.
Chapter 11
Beverley
I had the radio on full blast as I drove back to my apartment, hoping that the music might help in drowning the thoughts in my head. All those years of yearning for Grant…and when it happened, it was even better than my fantasies. Grant was gentle and thoughtful and knew exactly how to make me feel good. And then the thought occurred to me that, he was probably just as gentle and thoughtful with all the women he slept with.
I arrived at my apartment building and ran up the stairs, and slammed the door shut behind me. I realized that I was panting and thirsty. As I poured myself a glass of water, flashes of Grant shook my mind. I could see him naked, and standing in front of me, his cock in his hand…I wanted him inside me. I still did, even though I’d put a stop to it. The truth was that I was afraid of going any further with him, I was frightened of how that might change my life.
In college, when my feelings for him were the strongest; I expelled those thoughts from my brain by trying to hate him, by trying to compete with him. I tried to find faults with him, remind myself that he was just another jock…that he wasn’t good enough for me. But now I knew that none of that was true. He was smart and immensely successful and he had actually beaten me to the game. I was the one selling my company to him. In the long run, he had won.
Other than the fact that he was immensely good looking and the object of every woman’s affection, I couldn’t fault him for anything else.
I emptied the glass of water into my throat and sat down on my couch. Had the kiss, my orgasm…all been another display of his victory over me? I couldn’t stop thinking about how he tasted, how his tongue slid into me, how he stroked me right where I needed it. My orgasm had been strong, shook my body and had now overtaken my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. How would it feel if he was actually inside me? Had I imagined all this?
I shook my head. I regretted the decision now. I’d thought it would be a good idea to go to his house, to try and see what else he wanted from me. Before I went there, I was sure that I would be able to handle another kiss, if that was what he wanted. But now I knew that any physical contact with Grant meant disaster for me. It was like I was falling down a hole, deeper and deeper. It would be so difficult for me to move on from this, to find someone else who could even compare. This was all my fault.
I rushed towards my laptop and switched it on to compose an email to my lawyers. I wanted them to initiate the handing over of the company to Lonex as soon as possible. I wanted to get it over with. Grant was right, as was Sasha. This was the best offer I could get, and Lonex absorbing the company would mean that my code, my programs and my work might actually have a chance to survive. It would also mean that my employees would be taken care of. And also of course, the money was better than I could hope for.
As long as I could get past the fact that I’d seen Grant naked. That his mouth had made me come, I’d be able to move on with my life.
I composed the email and sent it off, only to realize that my fingers were shaking. I was still reeling from the shock of nearly sleeping with him.
I could move away? I thought. I could move to a different city, try and start over. I entertained the thought in my mind for a while, before I fig
ured that alcohol might help.
I had a bottle of whiskey stashed away, which I found and poured myself a large one. It started off as a few sips, but eventually turned into one large gulp. I poured myself some more. What did I have to worry about? It wasn’t like I had to get to work the next day. I had nowhere to be. With that email to my lawyers, I had begun the process of officially being without work. So, what was there stopping me from getting all out drunk and spending the whole day in bed the next day? When was the last time I’d taken a vacation or even a day off?
My thoughts wandered to Grant and I imagined him vacationing in the Bahamas or the Swiss Alps. His arm around a supermodel, or maybe two. Once again, Grant Jennings had overtaken my life. I wish I’d stayed away from him. That I hadn’t gone to that meeting, so that he couldn’t kiss me and mess up my brain.
Within half an hour of starting to drink, I was already drunk. I stripped myself of the blue dress and kicked off my heels. I’d have to wash those clothes, take a shower…hopefully that would get rid of Grant’s smell on them. I could still feel his hands gripping my waist. The weight of his head between my legs. Now I was beginning to wish that I hadn’t stopped him. That I hadn’t pulled away.
There were too many conflicting emotions running through me, and I couldn’t settle on a single one. I’d sold my company. I’d nearly slept with a man who I had feelings for but no future with. I was considering leaving the city I had settled down in. Nothing was going my way, and I felt more miserable now than I’d ever felt before.
Chapter 12
Grant
“Shit, shit, shit!” I kept swearing to myself as I dressed myself. I knew I should have held back, controlled myself. Despite how frustrated I felt, I also knew that Beverley had a very valid reason to be angry with me. Not only was I buying her company, but I had also seduced her. Or had she seduced me? She was the one who had turned up at my house in the middle of the night. What else was it supposed to mean?
Once I was dressed; I walked back to my den and poured myself another few drinks of whiskey. I needed to drink these thoughts away. That was the only way I could deal with it. I still wanted her. I wished she hadn’t pushed me away.
My mind reeling with drink and thoughts of Beverley, I found my phone and her number stored in it. I could feel myself swaying on my feet as I dialed the number. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say to her. In fact, it was pretty obvious that she wouldn’t even take my call. She had stormed out of my house without turning back.
Beverley answered, and I crossed my brows in confusion. I hadn’t expected her to. But then I realized that she might not have had my number.
“Hello?” her voice sounded groggy. She had left my house an hour earlier, she couldn’t have already fallen asleep!
“It’s me,” I said, trying to steady my voice.
“Grant?” she asked, and I noticed that her voice had become somewhat screechy.
“Yeah, I just wanted to check if you’d reached home okay,” I said and sat down on my couch. I heard her taking in a deep breath.
“Yes, I’ve been driving home by myself for several years now,” she said and her voice sounded slurry. Had she been drinking?
“Yeah, I figured, but I just wanted to check,” I said, and took another gulp of the whiskey.
“Check what?” she asked and a giggle escaped her lips. She had definitely been drinking. I found myself smiling as well. We were both drunk.
“That you were home,” I said.
“You want to come to my home?” she asked and I resisted the urge to agree.
“I would have if you weren’t drunk,” I said.
“Always the knight in shining armor,” she said and then we both fell into silence. I’d never seen or heard Beverley drunk before. In college, we all figured that she was a teetotaler, which suited her otherwise serious image as well.
“What are you drinking?” I asked her, after we’d been silent for a few minutes.
“Some whiskey. I got it as a gift. I don’t usually drink,” she said, sounding groggy again. Every time she felt silent, I wondered if she had fallen asleep.
“What are you drinking?” she asked me and I laughed.
“Whiskey too. I didn’t get it as a gift though, and I drink it quite often,” I replied.
“Figures. You seem like a whiskey kinda man,” she said.
“I didn’t drink any whiskey in college though,” I said and Beverley was laughing.
“Of course not. It was beer-pong and body shots for you then,” she said and I fell silent. I didn’t want to discuss college with her. That was a whole different story that needed to be talked about in a sober state. I was afraid of making any confessions that I wasn’t prepared for. Beverley had started humming a tune, I smiled again. I didn’t know that she was a funny and pleasant drunk.
When we hadn’t spoken for a few moments, I decided to break the silence. As nice as it was to just sit there and listen to her breathe, I didn’t want her to just hang up either.
“I’m sorry, Beverley,” I blurted out and she started laughing.
“Because you made me come?” she asked and I sat up straighter in my couch. Drunk Beverley was much more bold than sober Beverley.
“I’m sorry if you didn’t want to,” I said.
“Who doesn’t want to have an orgasm? Orgasms are great,” she said and I couldn’t help but laugh. I’d never heard her talking this way.
“You’re right, orgasms are great,” I said.
“So why are you apologizing then?” she asked in a quieter voice.
“You were angry after that and stormed out of my house,” I said and sat back in the couch, with the phone wedged between my head and shoulder. I had started to take off my slippers and lie down on.
“Yeah. I got angry. What are you doing now?” she said and I smiled again.
“Lying on my couch. What are you doing?” I said.
“Lying on my bed,” she replied and we were quiet again.
“I’m sorry about the company, Beverley, I really am. I want to help,” I said and immediately realized that it was a wrong thing to say. I was going to spoil the moment.
“Goodnight, Grant. I hope we never have to see each other again,” she snarled and cut the call. The voice I heard in the end was more recognizable, that was the Beverley voice I knew from college and the one she’d used when she fought with me and then left my house earlier.
I remained on the couch, hugging the cushions and cradling the phone against my ear still. This was such a high-school thing to do, but these were also high-school feelings I had for her. I wanted to hold her hand, I wanted to make her laugh. The sex was good. I wanted her body too, but I wanted to be the man who could make Beverley happy.
I figured it was just the alcohol talking. She had been drinking as well. In the morning, I’d feel better. So, I closed my eyes and tried to drift away but the only thoughts I had were of Beverley and how interesting she was.
Chapter 13
Beverley
To say that I woke up with a throbbing headache would have been an understatement. When I looked up at the clock, it was already midday and I had been lying on the couch, cradling the empty bottle of whiskey.
Eventually, I dragged myself out of bed and went in for a shower. I was stupid to assume that I didn’t need to get into work. I knew the rest of the team would be there, and I was immediately guilty for being hungover.
I managed to dress myself, into a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt and while fixing the sunglasses on my face, I left the house.
I walked to work as usual, and found the others huddled on a table when I walked in. I could still feel a dull ache at the back of my head, which was beginning to make me sick.
“Bev! You look like you had a rough night,” John said and I didn’t bother to respond to that.
“What are you guys talking about?” I asked, hitching the sunglasses up on my head.
They exchanged looks, till Susan cleared her throat
and fixed her eyes on me.
“We heard about your decision. The lawyers got your email,” she said.
“Oh, that!” I said and shrugged my shoulders. “That was a no-brainer. It had to be done,” I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
They were still exchanging nervous looks, till I placed my hands on my hips and stared them down.
“You don’t look like you’ve taken it well, Bev,” Sasha commented and I rolled my eyes. That was a bad idea, because it made my brain hurt and I winced.
“I’m not thrilled about giving my company away, if that’s what you mean,” I said and rubbed a hand over my face. As long as they didn’t find out that I also nearly slept with Grant Jennings, I figured I’d be alright.
Susan stood up from her chair and walked towards me.
“Do you want something to eat?” she asked in a kindly motherly voice.
“I’m fine, Susan. I’m not hungry and I’m not sick. I suppose we should continue on as usual till everything is finalized,” I said a little sharply.
“Will you still be working with us?” John asked and I shook my head.
“Why would I be working here? It isn’t my company anymore,” I told him and they all stared at me, like they were worried for my health.
“From what I could tell, Mr. Jennings…Grant is a reasonable man. In fact, he thinks of you as his friend. I’m sure he would want to keep you on. We want you to stay on, be our boss,” Sasha said and I let out a deep sigh.
“Well, you better get used to not having me around, because things are going to change here very soon,” I snapped and realized that I was taking out my anger with Grant on them, and I checked myself.
