by Amy Brent
Landon brought me into the office to work together afternoons and even some nights, laying on the compliments and feeding me the best food. I sensed his efforts, and I even appreciated them though I resisted his advances. It wasn’t easy with my knowledge of his talent in the bedroom, but I had to stay strong.
I saw the women look at him whenever we walked to some lunch place together on the rare occasion that it worked out, their eyes hungry and bright. He was so handsome and drew attention wherever he went, but I just couldn’t pursue him. I knew another night together would just be leading him on since I wasn’t sure about us.
Brian kept up as well. He was sorry he hadn’t treated me the way I deserved. He wanted another chance with me. It reminded me of when I first met Brian and he swept me off my feet, warming me up to the idea of taking him back.
I’d be so sure of that idea when I wasn’t at work and was talking to him. Brian gave me his full attention on the phone when we spoke, flirting and making me laugh all over again.
Could I love him? He didn’t make me weak in the knees like Landon did, but perhaps that was just lust. I had never stayed with Landon, always running after the explosive sex. That meant something, didn’t it?
I stayed with Brian, and I wasn’t always unsettled with him. I had been looking for a job when we were dating and stressed out, so it could be different this time. I had an excellent job now and was happier, and it sounded like Brian was working at an office now too since his brother needed help at his construction company. He had a schedule more like mine now and seemed to be settling down.
After working together all morning, Landon took me to lunch a couple of weeks after our night together. The company was picking up in business, and we were staying busy from morning to night. We walked back together, talking excitedly about the new client and what we were going to do for him as we headed to his office. I saw the roses as we rounded the corner and stopped mid-step as I took in the large vase of red blooms.
They were beautiful, and I licked my lips nervously as I glanced at Landon. “Those are pretty.” His voice was cold, and I nodded rapidly as I stepped forward. I slipped around my desk to pull the card from the little envelope, hearing Landon’s door close firmly behind me. It made me jump as I read Brian’s words, which had me tearing up as he reminded me that he loved me. He knew he had messed up and he wanted to take me to dinner that night to start fresh.
I wavered as I read the words over again, well aware of the man in the office behind me. But Landon wasn’t the safe route, and I knew I had been falling for Brian before this job, this life. He deserved a chance.
I locked my purse up and decided to call him in a little while, perhaps on my break. I had work to do, and Landon and I already ran over the lunch hour a bit, lost in a conversation.
It had been a good one, reminding me of what a good man Landon was. His eyes had been locked on me as we spoke, despite being surrounded by gorgeous women who were eager for a glance in their direction. Jesus, I had a predicament to deal with. One look at the roses reminded me what the better choice was, and I smiled and nodded, walking toward the door.
I tapped on Landon’s door, walking in when he told me to. He was sitting at his desk with his tie loosened and a scowl on his face, and I stared at him as I walked over to his desk. “So, where were we?”
Landon gave me a dark look as he turned to me and searched my face. We got back to business even though he looked like he wanted to ask me a question the entire afternoon.
I said yes to dinner on my break, and since Brian worked closer to me now, he offered to pick me up. I agreed and ended the call with a long sigh. Was I doing the right thing?
Landon was edgy when I went back into his office, and we got lost in work, so it was a while before I looked up at the clock. “Oh my. I have plans to get to.” It was inching past five, and I wanted to freshen up before dinner. “Is that okay?”
“Do you have a date?” Landon asked as warmth flushed over my cheeks. “Did I fail you by not sending you an obnoxious vase of the most overrated flowers in existence?”
“I like roses,” I replied as he stared me down. “He knows that.” I looked at the clock again. “May I go?”
“Have fun,” Landon said with a smirk as I turned and fled the office. I glanced around to see that I had a few minutes, as Brian didn’t have completely set hours. Unlocking my drawer with shaking hands, I grabbed my purse and hurried to the bathroom. I was already wearing a pretty burgundy shirt with a black pencil skirt and heels, so I just touched up my eyeliner and powder. I added some gloss to my lips before I loosened my hair and let it hang around my shoulders in loose curls.
I walked back out to my desk and saw Brian looking around with an impressed gaze. “Hi,” I called, and he spun around with a bright look in his eyes. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
“No, not at all. If I were, it would be worth every second.” Brian appraised me again as I walked toward him, stopping in front of him as he leaned forward to kiss me.
The sound of someone clearing their throat made me jump, and I looked at Landon with wide eyes. “Oh, hi. This is Brian. Brian, this is Landon. He’s my boss. I’m his assistant.” I knew I was babbling, and they looked at me as they shook hands. Brian was loose and friendly as always, but Landon was stiff and cool as he looked Brian over. Landon made a quick exit, and I fussed over my purse and jacket as Brian watched me.
“He seems…intense.” I looked at Brian in the empty elevator, shaking my head.
“He is when it comes to business, and it’s been busy lately. I am learning a lot, though. I like it here.” I defended Landon, knowing he hadn’t been nice in the least to Brian. The short time they had chatted had reminded me of some pissing contest.
“Is he interested in you?” Brian asked, and I gave him a forced incredulous look.
“No. Of course not.” I stepped forward as he walked across the lobby with me. “It’s just work. Landon isn’t my type at all.” I vowed to never let him find out that we’d slept together as we walked outside and looked around. “So, where are we going?”
I was surprised when Brian took me to the restaurant Landon had that first night. It threw me off, but he was sweet and romantic. He listened to everything I had to say and didn’t toss back a few beers with dinner. It was a great date, and I found myself relaxing about the choice I was going to make tonight. Brian had a great, stable job that paid well, and he spoke of getting an apartment on his own in just a few months. He was seemingly tired of the way he was currently living.
Brian was maturing, and while I didn’t know if I was the reason, I appreciated it. He was giving me new hope for our future as we talked over the meal and then coffee and dessert.
When we left, it wasn’t with the urgent rush it had been with Landon. I didn’t want to fuck Brian and leave, but there was a pleasant feeling inside my stomach. Brian told me again that he loved me over dinner, and I responded in kind. I thought I could.
We went my apartment that night, laughing as we walked back to my bedroom. His kisses didn’t affect me the same way Landon’s did, but they were sweet and slow. Brian wanted to prove his feelings for me, and I was willing to give him a chance. He paid close attention to my body. He made me come when he went down on me, me crying out his name as I tried to push Landon out of my mind.
After we made sweet, slow love, I snuggled into his arms and looked out the window. There wasn’t the sound of his roommates talking loudly in his living room or the smell of pot floating under the door. Brian didn’t usually used to come here with me, but he had tonight, and I smiled as I listened to the sound of his breathing.
I was doing the right thing. Brian loved me, and I knew he could be the man I needed, as well as a big part of my future.
PART 2
Lily
It was a bit of an adjustment, but I managed to stay at my job even though Brian and I were back together. It wasn’t easy at first, but I stood my ground with Landon ab
out us not being together any longer.
Brian was safe and right. Brian was the right choice for me.
I settled into my days working at my desk and dealing with Landon alone as little as possible. There was still a strong sexual attraction between us, and I saw the pain in his eyes when he looked at me, but I’d made my choice.
I noticed the circles under his eyes within a month of ending whatever it was that we’d had between us, and I assumed he was out drinking at night. It occurred more and more often, and I’d just watch him as he walked in looking at his phone, ignoring me. When he walked by me in silence, I just reminded myself that this was best and I’d made the right choice.
The first time a woman came in just before I was leaving for the night, my blood boiled. She was pretty, and she looked exotic in her clingy purple dress as she gave me a wink and a smile before disappearing into his office. In that moment, I was torn from being the mostly content woman who was comfortable with her choice and became a raging ball of jealousy. When the woman laughed and then something bumped against the wall, I saved what I was working on with a scowl on my face. I turned off the computer and walked out five minutes before I was supposed to, cursing Landon under my breath.
It was stupid and I knew it. He had every right to fuck whomever he wanted. Landon was a big boy and could make that choice, but I was fuming when I reached my car.
I recalled the night he’d admitted to using this same woman to make me jealous before we made love. I had thought it was flattering that night, but seeing her again hurt deep down. Was he playing the same game all over again? I started the car and drove home to my apartment, where Brian was making dinner for us, walking in and dropping my purse as I made my way to the kitchen. I stopped as I watched him stirring something on the stove, taking in how toned and lean he looked in the shorts he was wearing. “Hey.”
Brian turned his head and smiled at me. “Evening, baby. How was work?”
“Good,” I replied vaguely as I walked toward him and gazed into his eyes. I eased myself into his arms as I looked at the sauce on the stove, smiling as he set the spoon on a plate and pulled me close. Brian was doing everything he could to make it work with me this time, being sweet and romantic like he had been in the beginning. He was attentive now and spent most nights at my apartment, something that made me wonder what his intentions with me were. I kissed him, needing the contact as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Mmmm,” I murmured as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.
“Sauce,” Brian reminded me as I heard the thump from Landon’s office play through my mind again.
“Turn it off. We’ll eat later,” I said as I kissed him again, feeling him reach behind himself before pulling me against him. I wrapped my legs around his waist as he lifted me to carry me to the bedroom, where he pressed me down onto the mattress.
“You are relentless,” Brian said me as he kissed my neck and slipped his hands under my skirt. “I’m trying to cook you a nice dinner tonight and woo you, and here you are seducing me.”
“I want you,” I told him as I felt him slide my panties off before he pulled away from me.
“I want you as well. Take off that dress.” Brian watched me closely as I lifted the red vintage dress over my head, revealing my bare breasts. His eyes twinkled. “No bra at work?”
“I’m not that big and this dress is thick,” I said as I slipped my hands over my nipples to pluck at them. “Are you complaining?”
“Fuck, no. I want to pull your clothes off to find this every single night. You’re sexy, Lily.” Brian dropped his shorts and crawled over me. He kissed me long and hard before he moved down my body with his mouth, focusing on my nipples as he sucked one and then the other between his lips. He kissed down my stomach, teasing me with his tongue as I closed my eyes.
I tried to pretend it was only Brian and I in this room together, but memories played through my head as he eased me toward a release. I knew Landon had everything to do with the sensations in my body as I rocked against Brian, whimpering and moaning. He pulled back, breathing heavily before he moved up and slipped between my thighs to slide into my wet pussy. We didn’t use condoms anymore because I was on the pill. That was something I had taken care of right when we got back together, since it was going to last.
We moved together as our bodies dampened and I grew wetter for him, tighter. Brian knew I was tight after oral sex, which was when he preferred to be inside me. I came again as I dug my nails into his back, reminded of another time when it was with somebody else.
We returned to the kitchen to finish dinner after we recovered, sipping wine from the bottle as we fixed our plates. Brian went to the table first and I followed in my robe as we sat beside each other. Brian was smiling at me, and I gazed at him after another long swallow from the bottle. “What?”
“I decided to move out of the apartment and get away from the crowd. I’m looking for something more peaceful, and I was thinking you and I could make a go of things,” Brian said as my eyes widened. “I could move in here or we could get another apartment; whatever you want.”
“You want to live with me?” I asked, and he nodded and stared at me.
“I told you I love you. I want to make this work and take the next step.” Brian tilted his head and smiled at me. “Sounds good?”
I twirled some noodles around my fork slowly and took a bite. Brian had made a great sauce, and I chewed carefully as I considered the offer. Why not? He was a good man, and he’d more than proven his feelings for me over the last few weeks. “Yes, I’d like that. Do you mind staying here? It just feels like home to me.”
“This is a good place. We can turn the second bedroom into an office or something for us,” Brian said, and we began to discuss our plans. We ate slowly and laughed a lot, and I told myself this could work.
We cleaned up together and went to bed, making love again as I went down on my knees for him. Once we were done, I dropped to my side and curled up against him as Brian kissed my hair and told me he loved me.
Landon
Brian was playing the game well, sending Lily those flowers, though I would have gone for something a little more unique like she was. The ones I would have picked for her would have reflected her kind and generous nature, and they’d have been a color I saw her wear often, a color that made her skin glow. I noticed the little things about Lily, even now that we weren’t involved anymore.
Red roses. What a douchebag. Those could be ordered from any grocery store, much less a florist.
No matter what I thought of him, Lily cooled off towards me on that intimate level we were so good at. She was still an amazing worker and did everything she could as my employee, but it stopped there. Gone were the talks in my office when we were supposed to be working, as well as the way I had her on every surface I possibly could. We didn’t go to lunch anymore or plan working dinners.
All of that was gone, and I missed it. There were days I wanted to drag her into my office and kiss her senseless, but I contained myself. It was apparent that she was moving on, or at least trying to.
I spent the better part of a week feeling sorry for myself, alone at home. I missed everything about her and was well-aware that I’d imagined a future with my assistant. I knew I could get her relocated to another part of the building, but the idea of not seeing her anymore made me feel empty inside. I didn’t want to forget her the way I did Nadine. My ex-wife could drop off the face of the planet for all I cared, but the idea of not seeing Lily’s beautiful face every day was too much to bear.
There were nights I was angry with myself for pursuing her at all. Those were the ones when I’d sit on the couch with my bottle of Hennessey and drink my troubles away.
Eventually, friends talked me into getting out of the house. They told me I was working too much since nobody knew about Lily. As a man, that was how I was supposed to handle this hurt: get out there and fuck my way through it, so I met them at the familiar bar one night after work.
Maybe I needed to step up my game with someone familiar.
I had a few massage sessions with a local massage therapist, and it was no holds barred. She was willing to do anything for me, and I took full advantage of that, demanding rough blow jobs as well as tying her up to inflict light pain on her. Molly took it all, and more than that, she loved it. I used her several long nights, fucking her and utilizing her many talents to try to drain myself of my feelings for Lily.
I wondered the next morning if Lily even noticed. It was always the same polite smile and soft good morning from her, spoken without the light in her eyes that I missed so much. Did Brian make her happy at all? It didn’t seem like it. The week it bothered me the most, I called Molly and found out she was out with some friends, so I invited them all over to my place. I was drunk out of my mind but was physically able to take all of them on. It should’ve been the greatest night of my life as a sexually active man.
I sent them all away once we were too tired to do anything further. I’d fucked, spanked, kissed, and been serviced by the girls. I’d even watched them with each other during the activities. That was any man’s dream, right?
But I’d dropped into the bed that smelled of sex and sin and missed Lily’s sweet fragrance that was long washed from my sheets. Despite never thinking about Nadine with another man, I found myself wondering if Lily was in bed with Brian after he’d been inside her sweet body, him wrapped around her as they drifted off to sleep.
I didn’t get that he was an attentive and loving man the night I met him. He was clearly into Lily on some level, and I didn’t doubt that my reaction to him had raised some questions for her. I hadn’t been kind, and I’d judged him with my gaze, not hiding any of my disdain. He was one of those younger guys who got along with everyone, the guy you’d see at every party talking to all of the guests in the room. Brian wasn’t the kind of man that Lily deserved, the kind that worshiped and appreciated her.
