Autumn in London

by Louise Bay

  He angled himself right at the back of my throat and I gagged. The wetness between my thighs increased. I wanted him inside me.

  He knew. He pulled his cock from my mouth and dragged me to my feet to my bed.

  “You are so fucking sexy,” he growled as I lay back on the mattress and he stood over me.

  “Ethan.” I was shaking with lust for him. I wanted to know why he wasn’t inside me yet and then I heard the rustle of a condom wrapper. He crawled up my body and thrust into me. My head snapped back at the feel of him. As if he’d not been inside me half an hour ago. Like it was the first time I’d ever felt him fill me up. It was as if my body never quite got used to the size of him. I needed him close to me and I grabbed at him and pulled him against my body, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “You can’t get enough, can you, beautiful?”

  He was right. He’d created this insatiable woman who was drunk on lust for him and would do anything to have the man above her inside her. It scared me and thrilled me in equal measure. I didn’t want to be so out of control.

  He pulled his head back so he could see my answer. I shook my head slightly and he moaned and buried his face in my neck and sunk his teeth into my skin. A wave of pleasure washed over me and mixed with pain. The start of my orgasm began to fizz across my body.

  My hands moved to his shoulders and I tried to push him away slightly.

  “No,” he said sharply. “You will come for me. You won’t resist me anymore, Anna.” He increased his thrusts, deeper, harder and a white light blinded me as I fell and fell and fell.

  * * * * *

  I lay boneless and limp, with Ethan collapsed on top of me, his breath on my neck slowing, starting to return to normal.

  My hands trailed up and down his back. It felt amazing having him in my bed. In my city. But for how long? I didn’t want to think about it.

  Eventually he moved off me, went to the bathroom and emerged looking so hot it hurt. His hair was ruffled and his eyes bluer than before.

  “I think you might have exhausted me. I didn’t sleep at all last night,” Ethan said as he dived under the duvet and beckoned me into the crook of his arm.

  “Jetlag?” I asked.

  “A bit, and seeing you and work. You’re like a cure for jetlag and stress all mixed into one sexy little package.” He kissed the top of my head. “Oh, can I stay? I just . . .”

  I was pleased he couldn’t see the smile twitching at the corners of my mouth. “I’d like that.”

  “So, what have you been up to since you left New York?” he asked.

  “Keeping busy working long hours at the law firm you just took over.”

  “Merged with,” he corrected me.

  “Whatever.”

  “Disappointed I don’t work construction?” he grinned at me.

  “I never thought you worked construction, freak. Are you surprised that I’m a lawyer?”

  He sucked in a deep breath. “Surprised that you were at Allen & Smith? Yes. Surprised you’re smart and hardworking as well as sexy? No.”

  “I meant what I said about the rules. My job’s important to me. If tonight is just tonight—with your non-dating policy or whatever—that’s fine, but we need to be professional in the office until you go back to New York. I don’t want any drama.”

  Ethan didn’t respond, just continued to stroke my back. Was I being clingy or practical? No, I was definitely being practical. I wasn’t asking him for a ring, just some boundaries. Working for the same firm complicated things.

  “Look . . .” he started, clearly wanting to let me down gently.

  “I’m not trying to pressure you.”

  He pulled me tighter. “I know. You’re right, working together complicates things. You know we have a strict no-frat policy under the partnership agreement at Flanders, Case & Burling?”

  “A what policy?”

  “A rule that says the partners aren’t allowed to fuck the staff.”

  “I’ll let you into a little secret. You broke that rule. And you broke it good.” I giggled and then stopped suddenly. He was telling me nothing was going to happen between us.

  I tensed beside him and tried to shift away from his body but he pulled me closer.

  “So, no bullshit,” he said. I didn’t know if it was a question or a statement. “This is complicated for a lot of reasons. Yes, technically I’m your superior. Technically there’s a strict no-frat policy. And I’ve got a lot of shit to do while I’m over here.”

  “It’s okay, Ethan. You don’t owe me anything.” I tried to move away from him again but his arm clamped around me.

  “Let me finish. I’m trying to tell you what I’m thinking and I don’t do this with women often or well so you’re gonna have to be patient with me.” I stopped wriggling and his arm relaxed. “As you know, I don’t date. I don’t know how to date.” I could feel myself tense again but I tried to keep relaxed and allow him to finish what he was saying. “But I’d like to spend time with you while I’m in London.”

  “Have you really never dated?” I asked.

  “Anna, I don’t bullshit. No, I’ve never dated.”

  “How come? I’m sure you’ve thought about it. You must have.”

  “All sorts of reasons I guess. Work has always come first. I’ve always been ambitious and that requires a certain focus that I’ve seen my friends lose because they’ve been dealing with relationship drama.”

  “Do you mean Andrew and Mandy?”

  “Maybe. I meant my co-workers when I was more junior, but yes, Andrew to a certain extent. Ultimately, I’ve never met anyone that I’ve wanted to spend time with and I don’t bullshit. I’m always very clear about the fact I’m not interested in a relationship and no one has made me want to change my rule on that. Not until, well you know, we had our week together.”

  My body warmed at his words. I wanted to hear more.

  “And you’ve never felt like you wanted to try? You must have been under pressure to bring dates to parties. Isn’t it easier to be in a relationship?”

  “Is that a good reason to string someone along? So I have a date on hand when I need to go to an event?” he asked.

  “I guess not but I think that’s how a lot of relationships start.”

  “You might be right, but to me that’s bullshit.. If you want to be with someone, be with someone. If you don’t then don’t. No ambiguity.”

  “When do you go back? Saturday?” I asked, satisfied with his explanation for now.

  He turned his head sharply toward me. “No. I’m here three months.”

  My stomach flipped over and I sat up and hugged my knees to my chest. Three months. I could fall in love with this man in three months. This was more complicated than I expected.

  Ethan stroked his hand down my back. “Hey. Come here.”

  I shifted out of bed and pulled on a T-shirt. I needed to think and I couldn’t do that naked.

  Chapter Five

  Ethan

  I hadn’t thought this through. My dick had been the one doing the thinking so far. All it could concentrate on was getting inside her. And she felt so good. It started to stir again. There was no getting enough of her.

  I stuck my hands behind my head, trying to come up with a solution. I wanted her. I’d wanted her in New York and I still wanted her in London. Fucking the staff did not go down well. The clause in the agreement had been used as a way of getting rid of low performing partners before. Although the ones that fucked their secretaries and still billed like champions seemed to get away with it. And I was bound to screw this up. I’d never dated anyone. It was new territory for me.

  “Anna?” I thought she knew that I was going to be at Allen & Smith for a while. And to be honest, it kinda stung that when I gave her the news her reaction was to jump out of bed rather than straight onto my cock. She was chewing her thumb, which she did when she was thinking. Wasn’t three months better than a week? Maybe not if she was getting back with her ex or had
someone else she was dating. “Look, it’s no big deal if you just want to keep it about work.”

  “No bullshit?” She spun round and looked at me. “You want to hear what I’m thinking?” That’s exactly what I wanted. I nodded. “I think it’s complicated for all the reasons you said. And I don’t want to be fucking my boss, it doesn’t feel right.” Jesus, that was like a knife to my stomach. “But the idea of not fucking you feels worse.” Okay, that was better. “And then . . . three months. This is new information.”

  She climbed back onto the bed, kneeling opposite me. “This is terrible and amazing.”

  “Terrible and amazing?” Jesus, I couldn’t keep up.

  “Well, yes,” she said as if I’d missed an entirely obvious point. “Ethan, even after a week I missed you when I came back to London. How will I feel in three months when you go back to New York?” My pulse felt like it was going to jump straight out of my neck. This wasn’t about another guy. This was about her wanting me. I was elated by her confession.

  I pulled her toward me and she didn’t resist.

  “Seriously, maybe you shouldn’t stay,” she said.

  “I’ll go if you want me to go,” I said.

  “I don’t want that. But . . .”

  “But?”

  “I don’t want to get hurt,” she whispered. “And I don’t want to lose my job.”

  “You think I’ll fire you if you don’t put out?” I was half teasing but I wondered if she was genuinely worried.

  “No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying—it’s complicated.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” I said.

  “I believe you.”

  * * * * *

  The next thing I knew, I was waking up to the morning light, Anna still asleep in my arms. It felt good. I reached across to look at my watch. Shit. I should be in the office already, it was 7.30 a.m.

  It had been good to talk to her last night. It felt good to tell her what I was thinking and I could still punch the air at the fact she clearly wasn’t seeing anyone. But we hadn’t resolved the complications about the situation.

  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for me to be inside her. I’d come to like morning sex. Having her fuzzy with sleep and working her up to a point where she was wide awake and screaming my name was the best feeling, but not this morning. I gently moved her off my chest and slid out of bed and into the shower.

  She was still sleeping by the time I was ready to leave. I had a clean shirt in my office so I wasn’t going to have to make a detour via my hotel, I could go straight to work, which was good because I was late already. I didn’t want to wake her but I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.

  I sat on the bed next to her, watching her as her eyelids started to flutter. I stroked her cheek and her eyes opened.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey,” she replied groggily. “What’s the time?”

  “Seven forty-five. I have to leave.”

  “I’m late.” She sat up. “My alarm. I must have forgot to set it.”

  I smiled at her. She looked amazingly rumpled and sleepy. My dick started to harden so I stood up. I couldn’t be distracted. I needed to leave.

  “I need to go, beautiful.” She nodded. “I’ll see you at work.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  Should I suggest we see each other tonight? I didn’t want her to feel pressured but I wanted to see her. We hadn’t come to any conclusions last night. No rules had been established.

  “I’ll miss you,” she whimpered. I felt that familiar stab in my stomach that only she could induce.

  “Do you want to meet? Tonight? Talk more?” I asked. This was such new ground for me. I was used to knowing exactly what I wanted from the women in my life. The rules were clear. I took what I wanted and gave them what they wanted. It was clean and simple. This was anything but. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted to make her happy.

  She nodded in response to my question and I couldn’t help but grin. I leaned over her, trying to think about anything but her incredible naked body underneath the sheets. I swept her hair from her forehead and kissed her.

  “Do me a favour,” I said as I turned toward the door.

  She sat up, leaning against her elbows. “Don’t wear sexy underwear beneath your suit.”

  She giggled. “You won’t know if I do or not.”

  “I’ll know. I’ll see you tonight. My number is in your phone.” I looked back and she was grinning at me.

  Anna

  I really couldn’t concentrate. Ethan being in London was completely bizarre. Sitting there with him and Richard talking about work was beyond weird. Richard was being a super suck up, hanging on every word that came out of Ethan’s mouth. What a creep. But he was one step ahead of me because I wasn’t listening to a word Ethan was saying. Seeing him in work mode, explaining the intricacies of a corporate structure, it was like I didn’t know him at all. It was hot, but weird. Weird but I wanted him. My body was still sore from his fingers, his tongue, his hips and his cock, but I wanted him again. The blood was rushing in my ears, my nipples straining at the lace of my bra, wetness between my legs.

  “Does that make sense, Anna?” Ethan asked, looking at me, jolting me out of my head. He caught my expression and closed his eyes. “Richard, perhaps you could run with that and Anna can help me out with the Icarus file. Can you get something to me before you leave tonight?” Richard nodded and scurried out, leaving me sitting opposite Ethan. As soon as the door shut, Ethan looked at me. “Anna,” he whispered.

  I had no answer for him, I couldn’t think about forming words, I couldn’t think about anything but him. He moved around to my side of the conference table, so we were both facing the door. He took a seat beside me. “Anna,” he repeated. I turned my head to his voice and the breath on my neck. I braced my hands against the table, trying to retain some control over the situation. His hand grasped my thigh. I gasped. This couldn’t happen. He couldn’t touch me in the office. His fingers found the hem of my skirt and trailed underneath, stopping suddenly when he found the top of my stocking. “Anna. I warned you about this.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from moaning at his admonishment.

  “Jesus woman, you’ll have us both fired,” he said as his fingers went higher and higher. I should make him stop but I couldn’t move. I didn’t want to move. He found the edge of my underwear and pushed his knuckle beneath. “Fuck, you’re so wet.” He slid back and forth across my slit and I collapsed forward, my elbows resting on the desk, my hands in my hair while his fingers worked across my pussy. “You’re going to smell of come all day. A constant reminder of what I do to you,” he whispered as he thrust two of his fingers into me. I tried to concentrate on not making a sound. I wanted to scream his name but I put every ounce of energy into keeping quiet.

  “You look so fucking beautiful all the time, but especially now. With my fingers inside you, feeling your wetness. You like that, don’t you?”

  If I spoke to answer him I’d be lost and I’d start screaming for him to make me come.

  “Anna,” he cajoled.

  I nodded.

  “Beautiful girl.” He thumb rounded my clitoris, hard and relentless. I was on the verge of trying to resist him, and remembered that he’d warned me about not doing that. It was an instinct, I wasn’t sure where it came from. I didn’t know if I’d ever done that with my previous boyfriends, but none of them had made me come as often or as hard as Ethan. Without a thought, I squeezed my thighs together and he roughly forced my knees apart. “I warned you about that, too. I decide when you come.” Those words were all it took and I started to shudder and I snapped back, grabbing the arms of the chair, thrusting my hips in the air as I my orgasm spiraled through me. I don’t know if it was the silence, the location or the fact we were so close to a thousand people, any of whom could have walked in at any moment, but it was more intense than I was used to.

  As the pleasure subsided, panic took over. My
eyes flew open and Ethan withdrew his hand, stood and walked across to his desk.

  “Ethan.” Horror flooded my quiet voice. What were we thinking?

  “I know.” He stopped me. “We need rules. You’re right. Tonight. We’ll talk about it tonight.”

  I started to gather up my notebook. My legs were wobbly and my hands were shaking. “I should go.”

  He nodded.

  “What about the Icarus file?” I remembered him mentioning it to Richard before he left.

  “There’s no such thing. I just wanted you on your own. That look you give me sometimes, Anna . . . It drives me crazy. We’re going to need some serious rules if we’re going to be within a hundred feet of each other at work. He slumped in his desk chair.

  “Do I look . . . er . . .”

  “Like you’ve just come all over my hand?” He grinned as he finished my sentence for me. My cheeks were burning. “No, you look beautiful, but very professional.”

  I needed out of there and compose myself. “Ethan,” I warned him. “Let’s just keep out of each other’s way until we speak later.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Oh, one last thing.” I looked at him from over my shoulder. “No one makes me come like you do.”

  “Give me a break, beautiful, my balls are already blue.” He groaned.

  I grinned and left him at his desk with his hard on.

  * * * * *

  “You’re in a better mood today,” Lucy, one of the other associates, said as she sat on my desk. I’d been grinning to myself. “Did you get lucky?”

  I scowled at her and she laughed. I tell you who I’d like to get lucky with. That guy from Flanders, Case & Burling, the tall, hot one, Ethan Scott.

  I raised my eyebrows at her, worried if I said anything it would give something away.

  “His eyes are so blue. Did you see that? I’m sure he could make me come just by looking at me.”

  “Lucy!” I hated that she was talking about him like that.

  “And no wedding ring. Did you see?” she asked. “I bet he’s after a bit of fun while he’s in London. I’d be happy to be his fun for a few months.” She winked at me.