by Lan LLP
“Carson, I’m sorry you had to experience that kind of loss. It must’ve been awful. I’m here for you. I’m not leaving.” I can’t imagine a loss like that, but I know what emptiness feels like. Not having a father in my life has left me always searching for some kind of fulfillment, too.
He grasps my hand and presses it against his warm lips. “Lil, you’re so special to me. I hope I can help you find that fulfillment one day.”
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We drive up to another tall building, and I’m floored when I see his last name, Bradley, in big bold letters. I can’t flippin’ believe this entire building is all his. Oh my god, his wealth is inexhaustible. I’m speechless as my insecurity makes me feel insignificant in his big world. The driver pulls into a private parking space, designated ‘Bradley CEO.’ A few steps around the corner, a set of elevators waits for us. I sigh and it comes out a little louder than I want it to. Carson thoughtfully grabs a hold of my hand to help calm my nerves as we advance into the car. He enters a series of numbers on the keypad, and we ascend directly up to the top floor without any stops in between. I find myself moving closer to him as I feel the elevator’s acceleration.
“I hate that you’re so frightened of heights, but I love that it drives you closer to me.” He wraps his firm arms around my body and squeezes me affectionately.
“You’re such an opportunist,” I tease him.
“I have no shame when it comes to you, baby,” he chuckles.
A female receptionist welcomes Carson when the elevator doors open. “Mr. Bradley, good afternoon. What a nice surprise. We weren’t expecting you until next week,” she stutters her words as she locks her inquiring eyes on me. I attempt to untangle my body from his arms, but he keeps his grip around my waist. She’s a cute tall brunette with light, bluish, gray eyes, professionally dressed with hair neatly tied back in a sophisticated ponytail. She appears easily intimidated by him or shyly attracted to him. I’m not sure which one, but what I’m sure about is his awe-inspiring good looks. His presence makes most women stop in their tracks and lustfully ogle with infatuations and fantasies. I can personally attest to this because I’ve fallen victim to him after so many years of denying other men.
“Evelyn, this is Miss Ly. I’ll just be here briefly to show her my office and then we’ll be on our way. Just pretend that we’re not even here.” He gives me a flirty wink, and I blush with bashfulness.
“Hi, Evelyn,” I address her. I’m sure she’s wondering who the heck I am when Carson should already be married to Bianca. Her speculative look doesn’t seem to affect him at all, but I’m fully aware of it. Carson tugs my hand to follow him into his office. The door is deliberately closed behind me, and we’re all alone. He has my back pressed against the door and my body caged between his arms. He loosens his tie and removes his suit jacket while staring desirously into my eyes. My breathing is audibly rapid, watching him undress.
“I can barely keep my eyes and hands off of you. You look so fuckable in your tailored suit, heels, glasses and hair pulled back. Let me have you, now. I want memories of your sexy body on my desk,” he murmurs his request along my neck and into my ear.
Even with his promise that we cannot be heard or seen through the door and windows of his office, it still feels forbidden to me. My body is obviously more ready than my mind, but to hell with being cautious, I want him just as much. I grab his loose tie, rise up on my tippy toes and kiss his luscious, full lips for the okay he needs. My hair flows down over my shoulders and across my face as Carson pulls the two pins securing it. He tucks several loose strands behind my ear and tells me, “You’re so beautiful.” He greedily grabs either side of my skirt and lifts it above my waist. “I want you.”
In one quick rip, my panties are off of me and in his pants pocket. Our lips lock fervently as we eagerly undress each other. The attraction between us is so intense that no more time is wasted, removing the rest of our clothing. He lifts me up with his pants unzipped and encircles my legs around his waist. My body is pinned against the door as he continues to overtake my mouth. “I want to hear you moan.” He pulls me away and carries me to the center of the room. Our eyes never part. I feel the coolness of smooth glass against my bottom as he lays me across his desk. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a condom. I’m now fully aware that he had premeditated this lustful office visit. My lower legs are supported with his strong toned arms as he tugs my bottom to edge of his desk. His fingers slide inside me, one at a time. “You’re so wet, so sweet.” He leans down to caress and taste my swollen breasts, much less aggressively this time.
“Ah…Carson,” I moan as his burning lips glide across my melting flesh. “I need you.” In place of his fingers is now his pulsing erection. “Ah…ah…,” I groan, feeling his thickness fill my insides completely.
“Lil, I need you too…stay here with me,” he whispers each sentence between several longing kisses. His thrusts are slow, savoring every minute of our intense connection. My body surrenders to him entirely. He could’ve easily convinced me to hand him the world right now and I’d willingly give it to him. I pull his tight waist closer to me, digging my nails into his skin. I want him physically closer than is possible. He must’ve sensed my urgency and fills me harder and faster. My last pleading moan of his name sends him over the edge, and we climax together. He lies on top of my tingling body, breathing heavily as he empties the last of his cum. I feel the perspiration on his forehead and chafing bristles along his chin as he nuzzles his face into the crook of my neck. I run my fingers through his glorious thick hair and then wrap my arms around him. “God, this is beyond amazing. I’ve never even considered fucking anyone in my office. You’ve broken me, Lily.” He slowly withdraws himself from me without breaking our eye contact and discards his condom.
“I beg to differ, Carson. You were cleverly trying to seal a deal with me in my moment of weakness.” My expression is full of doubt. He knows he’s guilty and offers me a pleading smile.
“You can’t blame a desperate man for trying. Didn’t you call me an opportunist?”
“Yes I did, and I can’t blame you. I’m sorry I’m being difficult, but please try to understand where I’m coming from.”
He slides his hand along the side of my neck while supporting his body with the other and lowers his lips gently over mine. “I do and this is why I want you more than you can possibly imagine.”
“Thanks for understanding.”
“You’re welcome, babe. Now let’s feed you. I’ve taken more calories from you than you’ve had today.” We quickly put ourselves back together. He of course, looks ravishingly perfect after a couple of minutes while I’m still trying to tame my wild hair and button my white chiffon blouse. He tips my chin up and gives me a tender kiss on my lips. “Here, let me help you since I’m the one responsible for undressing you.” He buttons the last remaining ones as I pull my hair back into a ponytail. I bend down to grab my jacket off the floor and whack! I feel Carson’s hand smack my ass. “Don’t bend like that when I’m not around. No man should have this privilege, but me,” he half-teasingly demands.
I bend even lower and shake my bottom a few more times to taunt him, “You mean like this?” and then bite my index finger at the corner of my mouth.
He gives out a contagious laugh. “What am I going to do with you, Lily? Are you ready to go?” He shakes his head with an amused grin pasted on his face.
As we leave his office, I observe Evelyn’s subtle facial expressions which are suggestive of shock and disbelief. Only a woman can detect such subtleties. I can only imagine what crazy conclusions are going through her mind. Her eyes grew double in size when Carson places his arms around my waist again. I’m wondering if she’s in awe because of me or because of Carson’s laid back demeanor. She finally regains her composure and bids us farewell.
“It was nice to meet you, Miss Ly, and good to have you back Mr. Bradley.”
“Likewise, Evelyn,” I politely resp
ond.
“And I will see you early next Monday, Evelyn,” Carson bids her as he pulls me into the elevator and kisses me without reservation. Evelyn’s expression goes from subtle to obvious and then it disappears as the elevator doors close in front of us.
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Carson takes me to Marietta Italian Trattoria for lunch, one of his local favorites. I love the atmosphere, old-world and inviting. There’s a special VIP section for Carson. I presume he must be a frequent patron here. Our waiter introduces himself as Preston before guiding us to our seats. The table is elegantly dressed with beige linen, fancy silverware and a beautiful orange Mokara orchid arrangement.
“Mr. Bradley, would you like your usual Marietta cocktail?” the waiter familiarly suggests.
“Yes, that’ll be fine, but make it on the lighter side, please.”
“And you, Miss? What would you like to drink?” I sense his inquiring eyes on me. He’s probably wondering who the new girl is in Mr. Bradley’s arms. I can’t help, but think jealous thoughts of Bianca. Argh, I need to get her out of my head. She’s done enough damage to my brittle confidence.
“I’d like any kind of fruity iced tea with lemon, please.”
“Our raspberry-peach infused tea is a favorite choice for many of our customers,” he suggests.
“Sounds great. I’ll have one of those.” He walks away with our drink orders, and my eyes curiously follow him. As I predict, I catch him whispering to another employee as she looks over to our table. I’m confident they’re talking about me, and it’s probably nothing nice either. Again, I let it roll off my chest. I just can’t let every little thing bother me.
The aroma of Italian food permeates throughout the restaurant, making me hungry for every item on the menu. I’m starving, so I hope the food will taste as delicious as it smells. Preston brings our drinks and gives us a rundown of today’s specials. Carson knows exactly what he wants. I choose insalata caprese and linguini with clam sauce.
“Do you eat here often?” I probe as I struggle with my possessiveness. I’m not a jealous person, normally. What’s wrong with me?
“Whenever I crave Italian,” he casually replies. Dang it! That’s not the answer I’m looking for.
“By yourself?” I pry. Crap, there goes my attempt at subtleness.
“Sometimes with Owen or my parents.”
“No Bianca?” I ask while my eyes follow the swirling ice cubes in my glass as I stir them with my straw.
“No, she hates Italian food because it’s full of carbs,” Carson answers dryly.
“She can’t stay as beautiful as she is by eating whatever she wants, right?” I add.
“I haven’t noticed since the first day I saw your mesmerizing face. Besides, I love a woman who isn’t afraid to eat whatever she wants.” All along, he was on to my insecurity and trumps it with just the perfect Carson charm.
Preston serves our entrees, and the aroma is heavenly, but for some odd reason, I feel queasy after my first bite of linguini. The seafood smell is much more intense for me today, but I can’t think about it. I have to suppress this sick feeling in my gut. The last thing I need is for Carson to overreact. By some miracle, I’m able to consume part of my meal, but it wasn’t easy. I wonder what’s happening to my body. Crossing my fingers and toes, I hope I haven’t caught whatever the kids back on the island are suffering from. It’ll be my luck.
____________________
We aren’t expected to be at Carson’s parent’s place for a few more hours, but I have no desire to do anything else, but crawl into his bed and sleep.
“I must be wearing you out.” He gives me a pitiful look.
“Yes, you are,” I reply while holding back a yawn. I can sense disappointment in his tone. I’m sure he doesn’t want to spend our few remaining hours sleeping, but it’s obvious that I physically need it. He wanted to show me several other special places, but I just couldn’t do it even if I forced myself.
“Carson, I’m sorry to be a downer. I can’t explain this exhaustion,” I apologize with a big yawn, the same one I’ve been holding back.
“It’s okay, Lil. Close your eyes and sleep. You’ll need your energy for later tonight.” He tucks me into his bed, and I’m out like a light in minutes.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been out, but I could’ve handled a few more hours. Carson sits by my side and lightly taps my shoulder to awake me. “Lil, it’s almost dinner time. Wake up, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Crap, how long have I been sleeping?” I panic as my heart races uncontrollably.
“Three hours, fourteen minutes and thirty seconds.” He gives me the exact time, and it makes me laugh. It’s so like him to be calculated, but this time, it’s for an endearing reason. He’s counting down the valuable hours we have remaining here together.
I still feel really groggy, but I force my eyes open and slowly roll out of bed. The second my feet hit the floor, my body immediately feels more alert. I seriously need to make a better second impression with Carson’s mom. I brush my teeth and freshen up my disheveled-bed look with a little makeup. Remee gave me some valuable pointers for my face, and I’m using them today.
“What should I wear to your parents for dinner?” I yell out to him from the bathroom. This is so unlike me to worry about clothes, but I’m super nervous about proving myself to them.
“It’s casual. Wear whatever makes you comfortable,” he yells back.
I stick my head out to the bedroom to see Carson dressed in dark blue jeans and an ivory cable knit sweater over a collared shirt. I fashion myself similar to him. My choice is a pair of dark skinny denims with Belle’s hand-me down belted lacey black top. I finish my look with a silver and black scarf and the same heels from this afternoon. My hair is straightened and parted on the right. I check myself in the mirror and agree that I look decent enough for Carson’s parents. I prance out of the bathroom to find Carson’s eyes staring in my direction. He whistles and ogles at me.
“Carson, is this okay?” I ask for reassurance.
“Yes baby, you’re ravishing. Damn, your legs look amazingly long in those jeans and heels. I can’t wait to rip them off of you. Now let’s go see my parents. The sooner we get there the sooner we’ll be back, so I can have you all to myself.”
“It’s a good thing I had a long nap to keep up with your insatiable appetite.” I arch one eyebrow up and grin.
“Come over here, so I can take a bite out of you.” He throws me down on top of his bed, pins me with his body and grinds his hard erection against my pelvis. “Maybe we should skip dinner and have dessert here instead?” He arches one eyebrow up like I did earlier and gives me his dimpled smile. Jeez, he’s so irresistible, but I can’t let him distract me.
“Not a chance, I have a mission to accomplish. I need to win your mother’s approval.”
He hesitantly agrees, “Alright, I guess that’s important, too. Let’s go then.” He lifts me up into his arms.
We head down to the parking garage, and he leads me towards a gleaming black and silver sports car parked in a private section under ‘Bradley.’ I know nothing about cars, but I can tell how outrageously expensive this one is just by the unique look of it. It’s unnerving to see how much wealth this man has and spends. The exterior of the car appears brand new to me. This is probably another rarely used item. I disapprovingly shake my head without thinking. This is no family car; it’s the ultimate bachelor chick magnet.
“Owen ordered this Bugatti Veyron for me after I told him how much I enjoyed driving around the island. This will be my first time taking it for a spin,” he explains after reading my disapproving expression. His excitement is clearly visible as I watch him glide his hand along the lustrous car finish. Carson opens the passenger door for me and then smoothly slides into his side. The new scent of leather permeates my nose. This car is built for people who crave maximum velocity. The minute our seatbelts are fastened, he accelerates out of the garage with thrilling pleasure.
The piercing roar of the engine and rapid take off is certainly exhilarating, even for me. What is it with men and high speed sports cars? He drives it skillfully like he’s done it a hundred times, weaving in and out of traffic with complete ease. Every grown man becomes a kid again with a new toy.
Carson’s parents live in the suburbs. It’s a decent hour’s drive to get there. I stare casually out the window as we continue speeding down the highway. We’re jamming to his ‘80s music play list. His fingers are tapping to the music on the steering wheel as he hums to it. I’m enjoying our stress-free time together.
As we get closer to Carson’s parent’s home, anxiety revisits and sets in badly for me. I already have this horrible feeling that Carson’s mother doesn’t like me, and I don’t know how to change her mind. I straighten my posture, making myself look more presentable, and then an awful thought occurs to me as I nervously fiddle with my clothes and hair. Why did I choose this outfit? Belle’s shirt makes me look like a teenager. She likes edgier and trendier styles, meaning I made the wrong choice. My palms start to sweat, and I panic out loud. “I can’t wear this to your parent’s. Your mother already thinks I’m too young. Can we stop somewhere for me to find another outfit to change into?” I rant frantically.
“Lil, don’t be absurd. You look fine. My mother isn’t going to judge you by the clothes you wear,” he assures me.
Carson might be right, but I hate to chance it if he’s wrong. I eventually pull myself together and settle in my seat for the rest of the ride until Carson drives up a long private driveway. Oh no, we’re here. What if I can’t make her like me? I can’t think about giving up before I start. I have to do my best to impress her. I know this is important to Carson or else he wouldn’t push me on them so soon. I breathe out a small sigh and meditate briefly with my eyes closed. I can do this, I tell myself one last time.
