A Safe Pair of Hands

by Ann Corbett

  “Not as beautiful as you,” he murmured as, instead of relinquishing the flowers he caught hold of her and over balanced her – right into his arms.

  “I've missed you today,” he sighed as he put his mouth to hers, in a soft kiss.

  Sadie was all ready to deepen the kiss, and let things progress from there, when he pushed her away gently.

  “We have all evening, so let's take things slowly.”

  Sadie looked like she might argue the point, but then she sighed. “I suppose that you are right,” although she did not sound like she agreed.

  She led him through to the kitchen, and went over to her cooker, to lift the lid slightly and look quickly at whatever was in the pan. She had switched it on about ten minutes before Nick said he would come, and she knew that it would not need too long to cook. She gave the pan a quick shake, and dropped the lid back down, and then she turned to a cupboard and took out two crystal wine glasses.

  Nick could hear the sizzling under the lid of the pan, and the faintest hint of aromas had wafted out when she had lifted the lid.

  “What are we having?” he asked cheerfully as she handed him the bottle and a corkscrew.

  “Nothing fancy; I am afraid that I am not that much of a cook,” she said a little defensively. “Just a stir fry – chicken.”

  “I love chicken stir fry,” Nick said easily as he popped the cork and began to pour the wine into the two glasses.

  Sadie took one with a little sigh of relief. “Good – because I never thought to ask!”

  Nick put his glass to hers with a little chuckle. “Here's to an excellent meal – however the food comes out – the company will more than over shadow it anyway!”

  “Cheers.” Sadie sniffed, not sure whether she should take offence at his doubts about her cooking – or whether to feel reassured.

  She took a long gulp of the wine, which was absolutely delicious, with it vague hint of pears.

  “I say, that is very nice,” she said as she twirled her glass and stared at the fluid spinning in it.

  “Yes it is a nice one, and very slightly lower in alcohol – since I shall have to drive later.”

  “A bottle to go with our dinner,” Sadie shrugged. “And later I shall ply you with coffee, before I let you go.”

  He laughed again and his brown eyes twinkled at her. “That sounds like a very good plan.”

  Sadie felt her hand shaking in response to him, and the fact that he was on one hand saying let's take things slow, but on the other hand she was very aware that he was seducing her.

  With his smile and his look, and the occasional brush of his hand, and when he laughed...

  She turned away, and putting her glass down on the side she lifted the lid on her pan.

  The hissing and steam filled her little kitchen as did the rich aromas.

  “It smells wonderful,” Nick said from just behind her.

  “It's almost done – I think, so if you could just sit down – out of the way...”

  “That looks heavy,” Nick interrupted her. “So since you have done all the work, let me put it on the plates, please.”

  She hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged as if to say suit yourself.

  She bent slightly and because he was standing so close behind her, her ass bumped against his groin.

  Nick sucked in a breath, as Sadie opened the oven door and carefully took out the two plates, which she had been warming in there.

  She moved around him, apparently oblivious to the man and his now burning need to sweep her up and carry her up to bed – in spite of his declaration that they should take things ‘nice and slow’.

  At least he had thought that she was oblivious, until he caught her quick look at him as she moved past him.

  “Witch!” he muttered under his breath.

  He heard her little giggle as she placed the warm plates on the table, and felt a rush of affection for her, in spite of all the things that she had been through, she still held on to her own often playful nature. And the more that he got to know her, the deeper he fell in love with her.

  He took the heavy pan off the stove and carefully tipped some out onto the plates.

  It looked bright and colourful, and it smelled divine. His stomach suddenly grumbled as though in agreement, and he realised how hungry he was.

  They sat down across from each other, and Sadie lifted her glass and took another sip of the wine. She gave a little sigh of happiness and then prepared to tuck into the meal.

  The food was good wholesome food, with nothing particularly special about it.

  As far as Nick was concerned it was the best food that he had ever tasted.

  Once they had finished eating, the two of them washed the dishes, and then Nick filled their glasses again – finishing the bottle of wine, and then carried them through to her living room.

  The sat together on her sofa drinking slowly and talking easily together; they talked about work, and the people there, about his home, and her home.

  “Oh by the way,” he suddenly said. “Nancy has invited us to her house on Friday for dinner. I am to collect you and take you there.”

  “Well that is very nice of her,” Sadie said sarcastically. “Volunteering your services like that!”

  Nick laughed lightly. “Honestly I don't mind.”

  He finished his drink and placed his glass carefully on her coffee table.

  “And I really don't want to talk about that any more... in fact I really don't want to talk about anything anymore.”

  “Oh?” she drank the last bit of her wine, and Nick took her glass from her, to put it beside his on the table.

  He turned back to her and his eyes were dark with desire, as he reached for her.

  “I think that we have waited long enough.”

  “Oh I quite agree!” Sadie smiled as she moved closer so that he could wrap his arms around her, and give her a proper kiss.

  It was a kiss that lasted for quite a while, as it went from a gentle meeting of lips to open mouths and tongues, and his hands were all over her, slow and light at first, touching and caressing; but he seemed intent, in exploring every last part of her, and the more he touched the more fevered his touches became.

  Finally though, the cramped space of the living room sofa was not enough, as he pulled back and looked at her with lust filled eyes.

  “I want to undress you, and kiss every part of your body, I want to know every inch of you,” he told her.

  Sadie was so caught up in his desires that all she could do was to nod in agreement, as she stood up, and held out her hand to him.

  “Upstairs?”

  *

  He turned her around and she gave a little shiver as she felt the faint tug, and then the zip of her dress slowly glided down her back.

  Nick's hands touched her shoulders, stroking across slowly, and then sliding down the tops of her arms as he encouraged the dress to fall away.

  Because the dress had been off the shoulders, Sadie had decided not to bother with a bra, and so as the dress fell to the floor, she was pretty much naked; apart from a lacy pair of panties, and her satin shoes.

  Nick lifted her out of the garment on the floor, and she was thrilled at how effortlessly he seemed to achieve that, not even a grunt or a pant - it made her feel as light as a feather and as feminine as she had ever felt in her life.

  Nick placed her gently on the bed, and then followed her down, without even bothering to undress. This next hour he wanted it to be all about her, about her pleasure, and he thought that he would be able to control his own needs better if he kept his clothes on.

  He knew that the first time he felt his flesh again hers then he would lose all sense of noble intentions and get swallowed up in the burning need to be joined with her again.

  He kissed her throat and her shoulders and moved across her collar bone.

  Sadie whimpered and gasped and shivered in response to his kisses and she thought that she would never be able to get enoug
h of his touch.

  “Oh yes, Nick,” she sighed as she felt him trailing kisses down over her navel, and down over her thighs, and in as he moved her legs apart, so that he could taste her properly.

  It was an evening of pure pleasure, and intense orgasms, first for Sadie - and then later when she returned Nick's attentions, and sent him into pure mindless pleasures as well.

  *

  She wrapped her dressing gown tight around her, as they sat at the kitchen table sipping a last cup of coffee.

  It was not the best thing to send her to sleep, but she wanted Nick to drink one before he left her, before he drove his car back to his place.

  “The wine that we drank earlier is well out of my system by now,” he protested lightly; but he was more than happy to spend a little bit more time with her, even though he was tired and she looked half asleep.

  She walked him to the front door, where he turned to kiss her lightly on the tip of her nose.

  “It's freezing out there,” he said seriously, “So don't wave me off, just lock up as soon as I am out of the door, and go and get some sleep – I want to see you come into work tomorrow bright eyed and refreshed!”

  He smiled down at her, and then allowed his gaze to sweep over her. Her hair was tousled from all of their love making, and her grey eyes were large in her tired face, but she radiated contentment and happiness, giving her a soft rosy glow.

  Her dressing gown was a dusky pink affair, thick and warm, but not traditionally glamorous.

  On Sadie though, it looked warm and cosy and as sexy as hell.

  His eyes travelled down over her smooth silky legs, down to her little feet, which were housed in a pair of battered and beaten, definitely seen better days – shabby looking slippers.

  He scowled at those offensive shoes. How could they ever protect the feet of this perfect creature?

  “Good night then, Nick,” Sadie suddenly yawned, breaking his spell of discontent.

  “He pulled her gently to him, to enjoy one last kiss from her sweet lips, and then pulled open the front door.

  Sadie shivered violently at the blast of freezing air that hit her.

  Nick looked back one last time and then stepped out. “Sweet dreams, Sadie,” he murmured as he pulled the door too with him.

  Sadie did not hang about. She dropped the catch and slid the bolt into place, and then turned and ran up the stairs.

  Nick was just reaching his car when she peered out of the bedroom window, and almost as though he sensed her scrutiny he turned and looked up.

  She could not see his smile, but something told her that he was smiling, as she leaned closer to the glass, and lifted her hand to wave him off.

  “I love you, Nick,” she whispered as he climbed into his car, and drove away.

  She moved to her bed in a happy daze; Christmas would be upon them soon, but first there would be the work's party, and this year Sadie was really looking forward to dressing up and having fun with her work mates, and with her boss as well.

  Chapter Fourteen

  She had only been away from work for a few days, and Marcy had been there to keep up with most things, but it still seemed that there were a lot of reports on Sadie's desk, waiting to be typed up, and several requests for supplies to be approved and forwarded.

  She did not mind though, because it kept her busy and made the morning fly by.

  And it also gave her a few excuses to pop along to Nick's office – to confirm this – or check that.

  And Nick was the kind and courteous boss with her, that all of his other employees had always enjoyed.

  He was tolerant and encouraging, and he listened to her queries and answered them seriously.

  He never showed any signs of impatience – even if she had disturbed him, which she suspected on one occasion she had.

  She had gone into his room, and he had looked up at her almost in alarm, as he quickly switched his monitor off.

  He looked at her guardedly for a moment. “What can I do for you, Sadie?”

  “I am so sorry to disturb you again... Mr Hargreaves,” she stammered feeling a little flustered. “But I have had a request for more supplies of that violet coloured ink – you know that expensive one, and I just wanted to check with you first, before I send the order down to purchases.”

  “Who is asking for it?”

  “It's Jason... he is working on that jeweller's new logo.”

  “Ah yes,” he looked thoughtful for a moment. “Yes, Sadie, send the order down, will you... and then could you do me a favour, and ask Jason to come and see me, and ask him to bring along his files, please?”

  “Yes, of course,” she turned to leave, but Nick's voice stopped her.

  “Is everything else okay out there? You are not over stretched – due to your absence?”

  Once upon a time, Sadie would have searched that question for a hidden jibe, but now she just smiled at him in reassurance.

  “Oh no, there is a little bit of catching up to do – but I can cope, and I suspect that I will have caught up by the end of today anyway.”

  “That is good, but then I would never have expected anything less than that from you, Sadie,” his voice was warm with genuine praise, and Sadie cold not help but blush with pleasure.

  “Thank you... Mr Hargreaves.”

  She turned and left his room feeling almost giddy, from his warmth, his complements and his concerns; and she just knew that this was how he would treat any and all of his employees, not just her.

  He was a good boss, and a good man!

  *

  Sadie decided to have her lunch at her desk, and carry on working whilst she ate her sandwiches.

  Marcy had gone off for an appointment and then she was going for a slightly longer lunch, in return for her holding the fort yesterday, and so that she could do a bit of shopping; but she had made Sadie a promise of hot coffee and a cream cake when she returned. Sadie was looking forward to both of those things; her mouth was very dry at the moment.

  She was just on the phone with purchases, when Nick strolled in with a small wad of papers.

  He stood waiting patiently, whilst she finished clarifying quantities and pricing on an order, and then when she hung up the phone he held the paperwork out to her.

  “Sorry to add to your workload,” he smiled apologetically, “but I could really do with these by the end of today.”

  She smiled as she quickly scanned the notes. “That's no problem; I will put it on the top of my pile, and get right on it.”

  “Thanks,” he glanced at the empty desk across from her. “Where's Marcy, gone off to?”

  “She had a dentist appointment, and then she was going to grab some lunch, she should be back by one though,” she smiled brightly at him. “And she promised me hot coffee and a cream cake!”

  Nick looked at his watch. It was only eleven thirty. One o'clock was a way off yet, and Sadie was sounding a little hoarse.

  “Are you feeling okay, you sound a little bit croaky?”

  “I think it’s the cold weather and the central heating – it's drying me out a bit... but I feel okay otherwise,” she reassured him cheerfully.

  “Well I don't want you to have to wait for an hour and a half for a drink,” Nick said forcefully as he picked up her mug. He glanced at her little lunch box. “Put the phone on forwarding to the main switch board for an hour, stretch your legs, move around and relax, do whatever you want for a bit, and don't do any work while you eat.”

  “Yes, boss,” she whispered meekly, as he headed for the door, she did not mean for him to hear her, but his little grin as he looked back at her, told her that he had excellent hearing.

  She was on the phone again, when he came back with a steaming mug of coffee.

  He waited for her to finish and hang up before scowling at her. “I thought that I told you...”

  “Yes I was just about to, but it rang before I could put the forwarding on.”

  “Well, do it now, before it rings ag
ain.”

  She didn't argue, but picked up the receiver, and dialled a number. “Hi, it's Sadie up on the third floor, I'm forwarding the phone to you for an hour – if that is okay?”“ she listened for a moment. “That's fine, twelve thirty I will switch it back on again... thanks very much... bye.”

  She punched in a code, and then put the receiver back down with a little sigh of relief.

  Nick gave her a little smile of approval as he put her mug on her desk. “Good girl...”

  He moved away as though he was about to leave, then turned back suddenly. “I'm going for an early lunch, as well. Then I have an errand to run, so I probably won't be back until after two... maybe even three o'clock.”

  “Is there anything that I need to know,” Sadie asked trying to hide her curiosity. “In case anyone asks for you.”

  “No... I am out – busy; so just take a message or tell them to try again after three.”

  “Okay, see you later then – I will try to have your bits ready for when you get back.”

  “Thanks.”

  *

  She ate her sandwiches slowly, and savoured the hot coffee – mainly because it was Nick who had made it for her; but it only took her twenty minutes to finish both.

  She paced around the office, and stood staring out of the window for a little while, looking at the grey, wet pavements, and the people hurrying along.

  She stood daydreaming for a little while, and then as she thought of Christmas, and the dream of spending it with Nick, it occurred to her that she had not really thought about gifts yet.

  True she had ideas of what people would like, but she needed to take action about those ideas.

  She turned around and snatched up her mug, and whilst the kettle was boiling in the little communal kitchenette, she nipped to the ladies room.

  Back at her desk, she opened up the internet and began browsing for gifts.

  By the time that she had finished her second cup of coffee, she had a nice shopping list, which she quickly printed off, and then slipped into her handbag.

  Her hour was almost up, so she picked up the receiver and took the phone off forwarding, and then settled down to her afternoon's work.

  By the time that Marcy came back – complete with the promised coffee and cream cake, Sadie had finished Nick's paperwork, and she sat back with a little sigh of happiness as she tucked in to the chocolate éclair, and washed it down with her third coffee.