Exposed: An Anthology

by Brooke Cumberland

  “No. Sir is worse. Mark is good.” He grabbed his briefcase and strolled into his nearly empty office. Looking out the window, he couldn’t help but wonder what Sophie was doing. He didn’t know her routine. He didn’t know what time she got up in the morning or what she wore to work. He sighed. He had kept his word and not made contact over the weekend. But today, he couldn’t shake the feeling of dread not waking up next to her. His chest felt empty. He would send flowers and wait. The next move had to be hers.

  His morning finance meeting dragged on longer than expected. When he got back to his office, he found his schedules and a copy of the travel itinerary. Mary was good. He was lucky to have her. His last secretary had been too nervous around him and he found himself doing things himself instead of asking her. The phone vibrated in his pocket and he reached for it.

  “They are beautiful. There isn’t enough room in my cubicle for all of them. Thank you.”

  He smiled at his phone. Progress. “They aren’t nearly as beautiful as you are.”

  Bing. “Flirt.”

  His grin widened. “What are you wearing?”

  Bing. “Is that seriously the best you’ve got?”

  Mark chuckled. “I’ve got some others.”

  Bing. “Try me.”

  “You know what would look great on you? Me.”

  Bing. “Does that really ever work?”

  Laughing, he clicked on the camera icon and took a picture of himself and sent it. “You’d be surprised.”

  Bing. “I’ve missed your face.”

  Clicking on the attachment, his breath hitched. The return picture was of her gorgeous tanned leg wearing black stilettos. “Have dinner with me. Tonight.” He typed back quickly.

  Bing. “Okay.”

  “I have a meeting at 4:00. Dinner at 8:00?”

  Bing. “My place. Bring take out. And Mark, wear that tie.”

  “Wear those shoes.” Mark groaned as he put his phone back into his pocket. Maybe it wasn’t over after all.

  ****

  Four houses later, Mark was pulling into Sophie’s apartment complex with a front seat full of Chinese take out. He grabbed his duffle bag and suit out of the back of his car and balanced the box of Chinese in his other hand. Presumptuous he would be spending the night? Yes. Would he leave even if she asked him to? Probably not. No. God he hoped she was still in those shoes. His blood was boiling by the time he got to her front door. He knocked and held his breath.

  Sophie answered the door, still dressed in her black skirt and white blouse. His eyes ran down the length of her body, stopped at the shoes and growled. She laughed. “What’s with the bag and the clothes?”

  He tossed his things across the couch and put the Chinese food on the table. “No talking,” he growled as he shoved her up against the wall. Grabbing her hair, he tilted her head back and kissed behind her ear. She shivered. He kissed and sucked at her neck, wanting to mark her so everyone knew she was his. He loosened his grip on her hair and grabbed the hem of her shirt. In one pull, her shirt was off and he was devouring her breasts. Her whimper was all the encouragement he needed. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. His mouth met hers in a kiss that left them both panting. He yanked the skirt up to her waist. “God I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.” She was breathless as she reached down to undo his belt. Her hands shook and he smiled against her mouth.

  In one tug, he ripped her panties off. “I’ll buy you new ones.” His fingers plunged into her core and she bucked against his hand. “Always so ready for me.” His thumb found her hard bundle of nerves and she threw her head back and moaned.

  Her teeth grazed along the muscles in his neck and down to his shoulders. He had the most perfect hands. He knew exactly where to touch and what to do. Her breathing became more frantic and his fingers picked up speed. “Please Mark,” she begged.

  “What do you want baby?” His eyes met hers and she came undone. She bit his shoulder as her orgasm took hold of her whole body. Her body clamped down on his fingers and she cried out as wave after wave hit her. He continued at the same speed and smiled as she gasped. “You are so beautiful.”

  She clawed at his pants. “Need you. Now.” Her voice cracked as she tried to unzip his fly. “Mark,” she gasped. “I need you.” His zipper finally gave way and she grabbed his erection. His hands continued their erotic torture. As her second orgasm began to build, she didn’t think she could take it. “Oh God.”

  “Just let go.” He knew every inch of her. He knew the curves of her face and the roll of her eyes as pleasure built in her body. He listened to her breathing and when it became frantic, he shoved into her in one long stroke. She cried his name as her pleasure hit her so hard she had to dig her nails into his back to keep from going boneless in his arms. His strokes were fast, hard and frantic. His lips met hers in the most passionate kiss she had ever felt. His pleasure shot all the way down his spine and he yelled her name as he erupted into her.

  Sweating and out of breath, he set her down on the floor and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and leaned into him. He placed a soft kiss on each eye lid then down her cheek to her mouth. She smiled against him. He reached up and cupped her face and pulled back. “Hi.” He whispered.

  “Hi.” She smiled.

  Chapter Eleven

  Mark startled awake and looked at the clock. 4:00 AM. He was covered in sweat. It had been the same dream for three nights in a row. Sophie was leaving him and he couldn’t stop her. He looked over at her and sighed. Her light breathing indicated she was still asleep. Tonight they would need to stay at his place. They had spent the past three nights together, sleeping in short bursts and spending the rest of the night with their bodies entwined. But every morning, the same panic hit him. There was so much left unspoken and he knew he would need to tell her how he felt. Would she run? That would kill him.

  He reached over and brushed her hair off her forehead. She moaned and his body instantly responded. He pushed the covers off them and climbed on top of her. The kisses were slow and she opened her eyes and smiled at him. She noticed the look of panic on his face and opened her mouth to say something but Mark stopped her. “Shhhh. I need to do this. You are so beautiful. I’m so lucky.”

  He kissed her deeply and passionately. His tongue claimed her mouth and her body came alive. His hands remained on her face and the kiss continued as he entered her. He swallowed her moan and slowly pumped into her body. He pushed up onto his arms and looked at her. His green eyes locked on hers as his body continued it’s slow pace. Several times, he leaned down to kiss her, never picking up speed, never putting more than a few inches between them. “God Soph, I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

  His eyes met hers again and she came apart. He pinned her with his body and claimed her mouth as pleasure rocked through her. She whimpered as he kept his strokes slow and steady. She grabbed for his hips, begging to pick up the pace but he captured her hands and held them above her head.

  “Not today baby. I want to make this last.” His heart leaped and for the first time in his life, he felt safe and loved. The realization hit him like a lightening bolt. He loved her. As his flight instinct kicked into full gear, he bit down on her shoulder. He wouldn’t run. He knew the risks but loving her was no longer an option. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was clipped. “Open your eyes. Look at me. I need you to see what you do to me.”

  Her hands grabbed the sheets and held on while the most powerful orgasm of her life hit her. His eyes burned into her. His face so intense, she could feel everything he was feeling. The pleasure kept going and she bucked off the mattress. She screamed his name as her climax continued. The pleasure so intense it was almost painful. His mouth crashed down on her lips as her walls continued to spasm around him.

  Just as his orgasm hit, he leaned back and looked at her once more. Her eyes were wide and wild and he couldn’t hang on any longer. As the last tremor of his body subsided, he
sighed. “You’ve wrecked me Sophie.”

  “You’ve wrecked me too, Mark.” She rubbed gentle circles on his back as he leaned in and hugged her. She smiled. This was a risk but she was going to take it. “I’ve been wrecked since the first night on the beach when we sat and talked.”

  His eyes went wide and he looked up. “Really?” He laughed. “I was a goner when you hit me with that damn cart. I really think you had me then.” She giggled and he sat up. “Come shower with me. I need you near me.”

  ****

  Mark paced his office. His head was all over the place. It was impossible that he had fallen in love with her so quickly. He didn’t fall in love. The only women he had ever loved were his mother and Molly. He had promised himself he would never let this happen. He slumped into his chair and put his face into his hands.

  “Markie?” Molly’s voice was quiet but it still made him jump. “Are you ok?”

  Mark looked up at his sister and smiled. Her face always lit up the room and he was so proud of her. She was everything to him. “Hey kiddo. What are you doing here?” He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

  “I was downtown and thought I would come say hi. I brought you some of your favorite cookies. I haven’t been sleeping much so why not bake?” She smiled and put the container on his desk. “I think I’m so excited and nervous about the wedding I just can’t think about anything else.”

  He immediately dug one of the fresh white chocolate chip cookies from the container and sighed. “This is why I love you so much. No one bakes for me. Rich is a lucky man.”

  “I miss you. I didn’t realize you would be moving out so quickly. And to come home from Jamaica to find your things gone was a little bit of a surprise.”

  “Molls, it was just easier to be downtown as I get settled in. And I want you and Rich to have your space right before the big day. I know Mrs. Dickerman must be driving you nuts and to tell you the truth, it was a little easier to dodge her living on my own.” He took another bite of his cookie and laughed. “I want you to be happy and I didn’t want you worrying about me all the time. I didn’t think I should announce it while we were on vacation. You flipped when you saw the fax from the realtor.”

  “So how is the house hunting?” Molly stole a cookie and leaned back in her chair.

  “Well, I’ve found a few I like. Most of them in the Hollywood Hills. My favorite is on Hercules Drive but if I am going to drop 2.5 million dollars, do I want my address to be Hercules Drive? I’ve narrowed it down to three and I’ll decide next week. I have a friend coming in to help. It needs to be perfect because I want to lay down some roots.”

  Molly’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? Are you really going to stay in LA?”

  Mark sighed and leaned closer to her. “I have a few things to stay for.”

  “Like?”

  “Well, you and Rich. And I assume you will be having my nieces and nephews so I will need to be around for that.” Mark winked and whispered. “And Sophie.”

  “You like her. You really like her.” Molly teased him but stopped when his face became serious.

  “I think I more than like her. I know, it’s crazy. Everything I do right now has her in mind. I’m driving myself crazy. My poor secretary must think I’m losing my mind.”

  Molly’s eyes were locked on his. She studied his face, like it was the first time she was ever really seeing him. Her slow smile reached her eyes and her face lit up. “Mark, there is no one in the world I love more than you. It’s not crazy. Sophie is fantastic. The first time I met her, I loved her. She’s so real and normal. Don’t get me wrong, I love our friends. But she is so.. hmmm. Nice.”

  Mark threw a piece of his cookie at her. “I don’t do nice. I don’t do strings and feelings. I do easy and unattached. It’s not normal. By nature, men are not supposed to be monogamous. I think I’m having a heart attack. Stop laughing. I’m serious. I feel sick to my stomach all the time. I can hardly eat and I certainly can’t concentrate. Stop laughing.” Molly had tears running down her face. She snorted and covered her mouth. “Molls, I’m serious. This is a crisis of epic proportion. What if I screw up? What if I screw her up? What if I lose her? Why are you still laughing? Shit Molly.”

  “You aren’t going to screw it up. Don’t be such a pansy. She’s perfect for you. And she is obviously bright because she is falling for you too. Although, she is meeting Ryan for lunch today. You may have some competition.”

  Mark’s face went blank. “Ryan? Why?”

  Molly shook her head. “Stop worrying. They’re talking about his birthday party. Caleb was supposed to go too but his book deadline is next week and there’s no way he can get away from the office.”

  “Thanks, Molls. That makes me feel so much better. I think I would have liked it better if Caleb were going. Ryan is a player.”

  Laughter from the doorway drew their attention away from the conservation. “Did Mark Moretti just call someone a player?” Rich’s laughter was contagious and Molly followed suit. “I was worried since you were taking so long. I didn’t realize Mark was telling jokes. Let me have a seat. Tell me another one.”

  “Nice to see you too Bro.”

  “No seriously. I heard you calling Ryan a player and I wondered if maybe you had amnesia or something terrible like that.” Rich kicked his feet up onto the desk.

  “You guys think you’re really funny don’t you.” He pressed the buzzer on his desk. “Mary, can you make me an appointment with Neil Lane for Monday?” Staring at his shocked friends, Mark laughed. “Who’s laughing now?”

  Molly covered her mouth and a tear slipped down her cheek. “Are you serious? Are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

  Mark sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Is it a bad idea? Am I crazy?”

  “Marco, what are you doing?” Rich sat up straight. “I was joking. Don’t do anything drastic just to be a jackass.”

  “I don’t think it’s drastic. I think it’s romantic.” Molly jumped from her chair and landed on his lap. “This is the best news. Are you seriously going to ask her? Oh my God, mom is going to have a heart attack.”

  “Molls, you can’t tell anyone. You need to promise me. You too Dickerman. If I am really going to do this, I am only going to do it once. It needs to be in my own time. Got it?”

  Rich stood up and shook his hand. “I am shocked man. But your secret is safe with us. Now don’t screw it up.”

  As Molly and Rich headed for the door, Mary entered his office. “You have an appointment with Mr. Lane at 3:00 on Monday. I have already cleared your schedule.”

  “Thank you Mary. Now if you will show my guests to the elevator I can get some work done.” Mark laughed as Rich flipped him the bird. Was he crazy for doing this? Possibly. Could he imagine even one day without Sophie? Absolutely not.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Thanks for picking me up.” Sophie climbed into the front seat of Caleb’s car. “Mark is going to try to get by but if he doesn’t, will you be my hero and take me home?”

  Caleb laughed. “I’m surprised Mr. Perfect is letting me pick you up. Considering it’s Ryan’s birthday and he knows Ryan so well, I’m sure he’ll show up. He’s not going to let him get anywhere near you.”

  Sophie punched Caleb in the arm and settled in. “Very funny. Ryan is harmless.”

  Caleb raised one eyebrow at her. She was so lucky that he still wanted to remain a big part of her life despite the crash and burn in Jamaica. “Keep telling yourself that.” His laugh made her smile.

  They rode in silence the rest of the way. Caleb breathed her in. Her perfume awakened every part of him. He knew she would never be his. But in that single moment in time, it felt right to be with her. They pulled into a parking spot. He looked over at her and leaned his head back on the headrest. “You look good, Soph. I guess whatever this is with Mark agrees with you.”

  Ryan yelled for them as they entered the nightclub. There were several tables reserved and as
Caleb went to get their drinks, Sophie had a seat. She fished through her purse in search of her phone to send Mark a message.

  “Well, don’t you look good enough to eat.” The familiar voice made her drop her phone.

  “Holy shit. What are you doing here?” Sophie shifted in the booth and looked Shawn right in the eyes.

  “Work thing,” He took a sip of his beer and reached out to touch her hand. “I’m serious Sophie. You look great.”

  Caleb cleared his throat and Sophie’s panicked look hit him like a ton of bricks. He set her drink down in front of her and faced Shawn. “Caleb Allen. And you are?”

  Shawn shook his hand but his eyes didn’t leave Sophie’s. “Shawn.”

  The name made him cringe. Sophie had been a wreck for months after she had found him in bed with his secretary. Here he was, in the flesh, touching her like he still owned her. Caleb sat down next to Sophie and put his arm around her. “Well, Shawn, I wouldn’t mind if you took your hand off my girlfriend.” He pulled Sophie closer and kissed her forehead.

  She let out the breath she was holding and moved her hand to Caleb’s leg. She smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling with thanks. “Don’t get jealous honey. There’s nothing left there.”

  Ryan walked over smiling. “Is it finally swap night?” He laughed and pointed to Caleb.

  Sophie’s eyes pleaded with him and he swallowed hard. “Ryan, this is Shawn. Shawn, Ryan.” Sophie kissed Caleb’s neck and snuggled in.

  Understanding dawned on Ryan’s face and he sat down. “Dude, I don’t know how you let such a hot piece of ass get away. I’ve been trying to get her to leave Caleb and give me a shot but she won’t.” Long chug of beer and wink. “Anyway, Marco just came in and I thought I would stop by and say hello. I guess I’ll leave you to it.”

  Caleb turned and watched Ryan meet Mark at the door. His eyes were on them and if looks could kill, Caleb would be saying his goodbyes. Ryan held his arm and pointed. Mark’s face shifted to Shawn and his jaw clenched as Shawn stared at Sophie. Ryan shook his arm to get his attention and started talking more frantically. Mark laughed and walked toward the table.