Nanny with Benefits

by Amy Brent

  I looked in on Damon, who was enjoying the log fire in the living room. "Just having a shower," I called to him.

  He smiled. "Sure thing."

  My body felt good as I showered. The jets massaged my whole body, and afterward, I gladly put on my cloudy blue and white flannel pajamas. I was a comfort girl as opposed to Sarah, who was always about looking fantastic. I couldn't really blame her. She was a catalog model after all, so in her line of work, appearances meant everything.

  As I moved into the living room, Damon stood with his arms outstretched for me. I fell into them, and his breathing came faster as he kissed the side of my neck. I wanted his hands to touch me everywhere, and then he grasped my right breast. The warmth of him enveloped me, and my body craved only his touch.

  "Fuck, you're so damn sexy," he said, looking into my eyes. “I think about you all the time.”

  My breath became lost for a moment as he squeezed my thigh. All I wanted him to do was take me, right then and there. I'd never been so desperately horny in all my life. He had this way about him, dominant and completely sure of himself in every way. It was more than sexy.

  He licked my earlobe, shooting heat between my legs, like he was in complete control of my wetness. He pressed so close to me, I felt his steely erection on my stomach. God, I wanted him so badly.

  The pitter-patter of tiny feet tapped steadily down the stairs. We both let go of one another as Alexis entered the living room. "Karly, I need a drink of water. My throat is firsty."

  I gave her a smile, still catching my breath from being in Damon's perfect arms. "Okay, sweetie, and then I'll tuck you back in." I wasn’t going to correct her this late at night.

  "Good night, Alexis," said Damon, blowing her a kiss. "Good night, Clara," he added.

  "Good night," answered Alexis in between her gulps of water.

  I put her to bed, and then Damon and I also went to bed straight afterward without any more kissing. It was late, and no good would come from us staying up half the night.

  "Good night, Karly," said Damon with a wide smile. His eyes sparkled like a wildfire.

  "Good night, Damon," I whispered back, my whole body still heated. I would need to dream about him this night. That was for sure.

  Chapter 15

  Damon

  I woke up ten minutes before my alarm went off, but I loved being early. If I woke up late, I felt like everything was screwed from the get-go. In my line of work, it was definitely true that time was money.

  Before I jumped straight in the shower, I heard talking downstairs. Alexis and Karly sounded like they'd already started their day together. Alexis's voice sounded nearly normal again, so she might have been able to go to school.

  The shower felt good. It was hot and long, just how I liked it. I would wear my lucky mauve shirt today to set things in motion with Gary Montabe. He was a hard-ass who only did business on his terms. He was cutthroat when it came to negotiation, and although Derringer had tried to butter him up, he wasn't going to play ball without asserting his control. I respected a man like that. It was usually the case that men were sheep, and a great example was the whole Chan "follow-the-leader" escapade. Montabe would know that Chan was in, but he would want to seal his own deal without asking about what Chan was or wasn't doing.

  My face lit up as I tasted my French toast and eggs. Karly knew how to cook everything just right. She was definitely blessed with her talents in the kitchen…and the bedroom. Fuck. Alexis’s illness and my workload had thwarted our chances at intimacy recently, ratcheting up the anticipation as the days passed.

  "You look much better," I said to Alexis.

  "I'm heaps good. Karly-good-girl fixed me, and Clara is happy too."

  "Well, that's good," I said, giving her a wide smile. Her plaits were accentuated by pink bows that matched her T-shirt. There was a smiling pink and purple pony along with a rainbow.

  "Karly, how come you don't put ribbons in your hair?" Alexis asked. "Don't you want to be pretty?"

  Karly smiled and thought for a moment. She looked up to the sky, making it seem like she was trying to think about the question more definitively. It was cute.

  "Hmm, well, my mom said that being pretty is about how you behave. Ribbons and curls can't make you pretty on the inside."

  Alexis looked at Clara and thought for a moment. "On the inside? What do you mean?"

  Karly smiled. "Have you ever read about a mean character in a book, someone who was being really nasty?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, those people are yucky on the inside. They don't think about the way they act or treat other people."

  Alexis's eyes lit up. "Like Tommy Teaser in the zoo book! He was teasing all the animals at the zoo," she said, thinking about it as she spoke the words.

  "Exactly," said Karly.

  I didn't want to go to work, but I couldn't be late for Montabe. He would see it as a sign of weakness, and then there would be no deal at all. I kissed Alexis.

  "Have a great day at kindergarten. I'll see you later."

  Karly smiled at me as I left. Those eyes could have set sail a thousand ships and broken a billion hearts. There were truth and honesty in her eyes, a refreshing change from other women I'd spent time with for work and friendships. Karly was different somehow, with an innocence in her that made me want her even more.

  "Bye, Dada!" I got a huge hug before I went through the door.

  Today was going to be awesome. After my meeting, I would see Eric for lunch. That was always an entertaining experience. He would have something wild and wonderful to tell me like he always did. I thoroughly enjoyed being witness to his player ways and the comical situations he got himself in. Some of the shit he came up with was hilariously funny. I wondered whether he realized just how off-kilter his life was sometimes.

  ***

  The meeting with Montabe was practical. He wanted in but for ten percent less than all the other clientele, which would have been seen as bias if any other client found out. But I ran an above-board enterprise. If he wanted to pay less, he'd have to lose a few perks to match that investment. So, I worked it out and came up with a new basic package all clientele could choose as opposed to what was now the premium preckage.

  He was happy with it, and I got to Palazzo's in record time. Eric was already there, looking at the data for his investments. His laptop seemed to be attached to him by an invisible cord.

  I sat down and knew to be quiet until he finished looking at the data. He wouldn't be able to concentrate unless he knew the stocks and shares were lining up. I waited patiently and whispered our coffee order to the polite waiter.

  "Holding it all. Blue chip is the key. Sometimes I want to get something else, but I just don't see the trend."

  I smiled. "So, are you done?"

  "Yep. I just needed to see what the latest announcement was. I hate it when the herd pulls out or buys in just because some dickhead wants in or out. I mean, who are these people?"

  I laughed. "Some of them are the richest men and women on the planet, so I guess it matters what they do or don't do. One of my big clients has brought us a heap of new clientele. The craziness at the company is off the charts."

  "Well, I can't even tell you about my week because you'll be insanely jealous." He smiled at me. It was that devious grin he always used when he got laid.

  "Go on. Try me."

  "Okay. Well, Monday, I had Sharlene. She's absolutely addicted to giving head, and she's so damn tight, I had to hold my breath to try not to come too early. Tuesday, it was Danielle. Biggest breasts I've ever had the pleasure of sucking, and she did this thing where she sucked on her finger. Man, that was a great night." He smiled. "Wednesday, I saw Lou, and she wore this negligee of white lace. I thought I was gonna come on her before she even took it off. And last night was my favorite, this chick Yasmina from the gym. Fuck, she let me do everything to her. I touched her, licked her, fingered her, and she came screaming. I thought I was being filmed for a porn shoot
, she was that good. Then she sucked my dick like a lollipop and had her way with me five times. She put a cock ring on me so I didn't come too soon."

  "Wow. You never cease to amaze me."

  "I can hook you up with her friend—Sherry, I think her name is. She's fucking hot."

  I smiled, hoping I wouldn't regret my words. "No need. I kinda found someone I like already."

  His eyes grew wider. Our conversations were usually one-sided when it came to him telling me about the women he'd been with. It had been years since I’d been with Alice, and even then, I'd been respectful. I didn't like to kiss and tell.

  "Who? Someone from the company?" he asked with bated breath.

  "No."

  "The nanny?" he asked, putting two and two together.

  "Yeah. We slept together."

  "Oh man, porking the help. God, you are a sly dog. I thought you'd fall for one of those nannies sooner or later. All those domestic benefits will keep you pumping your jerky. One, two, push." He laughed loudly and added a mocking tone, mimicking his version of a woman. "Oh, Damon, but I must finish the salad. You can't know how wrong this is. Ohhhhh, Damon."

  We got looks from people at other tables, and I began to feel uncomfortable. I should've known better than to tell Eric the player.

  "Shut up, Eric. Don't fucking talk about her like that. You're bringing unwanted attention to us."

  "Sorry. I'm just totally dumbfounded. It's great news, seriously. Tapping the nanny."

  My eyes rolled, and he knew I'd had enough of his words. He needed to let this end and say something slightly more mature. I needed his actual thoughts on the matter, not jokes.

  "Do you like her?" he asked, being serous.

  "Yes, I do. She's really nice, kind and honest."

  "That shit's hard to come by these days."

  "I know. And Alexis loves her to pieces."

  "Fuck, man, you got it real bad. I knew something was up with you." He smiled a wide grin. "Is she good in the bedroom?" he asked.

  "Good try," I said, sipping my expensive coffee.

  ***

  It was a blessing to get home. Dinner smelled divine, and I knew I was going to be spoiled by something wonderful. Chicken a la king was what Karly called it. It had apricots and some spices that sank into the dish with a delightful sauce. Rice was splashed around, making the meal sing, and some roasted potatoes were on the side, sprinkled with a fragrant mix of rosemary and thyme. It was a meal fit for a king.

  We put Alexis to bed and slipped out after a story about a talking tree and a snail who wanted to make a cup of tea. That was a hard task because neither of them had hands, so they had to ask a fairy, but she was too small. In the end, they found a little girl playing in the park who helped them out, much to the disappointment of a white rabbit who wanted to sabotage the whole affair.

  We made our way to the living room. The flicker of the fire changed our mood nearly instantly. There was no time to open the wine before we held each other close. Our breath escaped between fiery kissed as our hands moved over on one another as if we were blinded by the passion. Our kisses lasted for at least a quarter of an hour. I was taken by the taste of her. Being near her was like being in an entirely new world, a world where my heart raced and I needed her to keep it beating.

  At the end of our kiss, she bit her lip. "I'm going to need to go home tonight. I'll have mail stacking up, and I need to water a few plants."

  "Are you sure you can't stay?" I asked, wishing we could be intimate again.

  "I'd better not," she said, trying hard not to let her passion get in the way of her responsibilities.

  I accepted her answer. I hated being off-kilter with things at work, so I understood she needed to go. I poured her a half a glass of wine, but she only managed a sip, as I planted kisses on her. I wanted to do so much more, and I knew our hot and heavy make-out session was making her hot and wet.

  "I'd better go. Thank you for the wine," she said, giving me that perfect smile.

  We held hands as we got closer to the door, and we kissed and fondled one another for another few minutes before she left. I'd never been this infatuated before. As she left, it felt like a part of myself had escaped too.

  Chapter 16

  Karly

  Before heading home, I went to the store. I'd promised Alexis some bagels with strawberry cream cheese the next day. I needed some orange juice and some eggs as well. Afterward, I stopped by the mailbox to check my mail. Nothing major. Just a bill for my cell and some other junk mail. I headed back to my apartment and made my way up the stairs, but when I got there, my door was ajar. I was sure I’d locked it. Maybe Sarah hadn’t latched it properly when she’d come the other day.

  I placed the bags down and paused. A creepy feeling that wasn't sitting right filled my stomach. I listened but didn’t hear a noise. I crept in and saw the state of my apartment. It was completely trashed, with food and drink poured all over the furniture, pictures broken, and even my lingerie and clothes thrown everywhere. My stomach tumbled and fell. A yellow note pinned to the wall caught my eye. It was written in capitals in red ink and said, "YOU MADE THE WRONG CHOICE AND NOW YOU’RE GONNA REGRET IT!"

  I tried to swallow as I realized who the note was from. Keith had obviously done this. He was hell-bent on getting revenge for my non-commitment to him. I walked slowly into my bedroom and realized he'd rifled through all my things. I felt completely helpless, and I didn't want to be alone.

  I dialed Damon's cell. "Hey, Karly. Is everything all right?" he asked, probably wondering why I was calling after having just left.

  "Hi. I'm kinda in trouble. Keith ransacked my apartment, and I feel a bit vulnerable. Everything’s strewn about everywhere."

  "Shit, really? Well, come here and stay in the guest room. That guy is an accident waiting to happen. Are you okay?"

  "Just shaken. I went to the store to pick up some things, and when I got home, he’d wrecked the place."

  "Thank god you weren’t by yourself last night," he said.

  "I know."

  "Okay, well, just get here when you can. There's no rush. Bring what you need."

  "Thank you. See you soon." I hung up the phone and got organized.

  I grabbed my largest travel bag and packed some clothes into it. I made sure I had everything I needed to take. I was going to stay in the guest room for a while until this all blew over.

  Before I left, I rang a twenty-four-hour locksmith to come and change the locks. I explained that my ex must've made a copy of the key before I’d gotten him to give it back to me. I explained the entire situation to the gentleman on the line, and he was more than happy to have it done before lunchtime the next day. The new key would be left with the apartment office.

  When I got to Damon's, my hands still shook with the shock of what had happened. Keith was a loose cannon, but I hadn’t believed he was capable of such a disgusting act. As I knocked on Damon's door, I struggled to hold back my tears. My home had been infiltrated and damaged. I’d been struck on a personal level. It wasn't a nice feeling, not at all.

  I was greeted by a consoling smile and a kind, warm hug. Thank god he was there for me. I didn't like to lean on anyone except my parents and Sarah sometimes, but I’d never needed it more than tonight.

  "Hey, you," he said, holding me tightly. It was the safest I'd felt all night.

  "Thank you," I said, enjoying his beautiful embrace.

  He let go and then helped me with my bag. I hated bringing my emotional baggage with me. This mess from my past shouldn’t have had an effect on anyone else, especially Alexis. My mind was buzzing. How could I concentrate on anything when the sight I’d encountered at my place wouldn’t stop haunting me? My apartment was in a shambles, and Keith was obviously on the warpath.

  "I don't want any of this to affect you or Alexis. I didn't know he could get this crazy. Maybe I should ask Sarah if—"

  "It's fine. This building is secure, and we need you, Karly. It's all right. Th
at guy can't touch you here. What a fucking jerk he is."

  His words permeated into my soul. He was the real deal, a perfect gentleman, completely masculine with a kind and compassionate side as well. I needed a friend, and he was more than what I'd expected a man to be for me, not like Keith at all. He never made me do anything I didn't want to do and never complained about me. There was no judgment at all. I felt extremely lucky to be with him in my time of need.

  "Looks like you'll be staying for a while," he said, looking at my humongous bag overflowing with clothes.

  He gave me a wide grin, and then we went to bed, exhausted from the day. We shared a long kiss before we parted ways. I slept in the guest room in case Alexis awoke in the middle of the night. I felt at peace there, safe. I couldn’t remember feeling so loved by any man.

  The next morning, bright and early, Alexis walked out holding Clara. "Karly! You’re still here! Are you living with me and Dada?"

  "Yes," I said. "At least I am for now."

  I began making breakfast as Alexis's smile washed over her face. Her attention on me was short-lived, as a favorite cartoon became the new object of her affection. I was running thirty minutes late, but Damon didn't seem to mind waiting at all. My alarm had gone off, but I’d pressed snooze. I must’ve needed a big rest.

  Damon read the morning paper and topped up his coffee, making me one as well. "That French toast smells divine," he said, allowing the smell to filter through his nostrils.

  Alexis was already enjoying her bagel with strawberry cream cheese. "Mine tastes like how a rainbow would, like strawberry heaven."

  My mood improved as I listened to them both. They were always so grateful no matter what I prepared. Unless it was that curry dish I tried once, Bombay chicken. Alexis's face had looked forlorn as she'd tried it. She wasn't one to hold back her opinion, and neither was Clara, it seemed. She called the dish the “the hottest, yuckiest mess ever made.” Damon and I had both laughed at her words. Alexis enjoyed toast that night with Jell-O for dessert.