Sucker for the Boss
Page 62
“I couldn’t believe what a little minx you were in bed. I expected you to be shy and embarrassed. I have to admit that I couldn’t stop thinking about you for days”. She wanted to blurt out that she was also waiting for him to call back, for days, but stopped herself in time.
“Look Don. That night was a mistake. Can we please never talk about it ever again?”, she glared at him as he drove, at his side profile as he concentrated on the road, the same mocking smile on his face remained.
“If you say so. I just don’t understand why we can’t share a joke over it. It’s not like it killed either of us”. Elaine clenched her fists on her lap, she wanted to scream at him and tell him exactly how their night together had affected her. The days she spent staring at her phone and hoping it would ring. How she couldn’t sleep in her bed for weeks without thinking she could still smell him on her bed linen, even though she’d washed them several times.
“No it didn’t. But we’re related now and it’s inappropriate” she said and turned her head away from him. Now she knew that it was definitely a bad idea. She had gotten over him, gotten over the fact that a charming stranger she met at an office party had swooped her off her feet and made love to her like she had never experienced before. For a year she had slowly begun to deal with the fact that a twist of fate had brought the two of them together in an unexpected way that she might never be able to surpass. At the wedding she had stayed away from him, only watching him from the corner of her eyes as she noticed how he flirted with every girl in the room; every woman, married, old and young. He had a way about him that was irresistible. Don Bennett could charm the socks off any woman.
“I don’t know what you mean by that. I agree with your mother, it’s not like we grew up together and we’re consenting adults”, when she looked at him he winked and she forced herself to scorn. All she really wanted to do was hide her face in her pillow and sob loudly. How could she possibly explain to him how torn her emotions were about him? How she knew that he was not the kind of man who cared about the trail of broken hearts he left behind, and yet she couldn’t stop feeling like he was the only man on Earth who could make her toes curl and her heart flutter. So outwardly, she could only be angry at him.
“I don’t know what ideas you have in your head Don. But whatever chance you had with me, ended when our parents got hitched” she said, just as he slowed to a stop outside her apartment building. He turned the key in the ignition and turned in his seat to look at her.
“If there’s one thing you should already know about me, it is that the more you hold it back from me, the more I want it” he said and leaned in towards her to kiss her on her lips. Elaine was too taken aback to react or even kiss him back. But she could smell him now, and taste the traces of whiskey on his lips. She could feel his tongue sliding over her lips as he kissed her gently. Too softly for a man like him. He pulled away from her after a few seconds, it was a short kiss.
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re going to invite me in?” he asked, his laughing blue eyes stared into hers as she remained silent. Too shocked to respond to him in any way. Quietly and slowly she opened the door and began to step out of the car. He was still turned towards her, the smile had never left his face. Elaine turned to look at him as her sandals hit the concrete road in front of the building.
“So are you coming up or not?” she asked him and turned away from him without waiting for a response. She didn’t want to see the look of victory on his face, she didn’t want to know how absolutely impossible it was for her to say no to him.
******
Elaine had barely gotten the door open before Don had pushed her against the wall and was kissing her again. This time his lips were pressed tight against hers and his hand had traveled up under her dress. She arched her body towards him, as his touch on her bare thighs tingled her skin and gave her goosebumps.
She couldn’t help but moan as he continued to let his fingers travel upwards, till they had pulled down her panties. His hands now caressed her bare butt as he pressed her towards him and bit her lower lip.
Elaine’s hands trembled, but she gently held on to him as she kissed him back. She felt like she needed him more than he did and she wanted to devour him now that she had the chance. With her nails she dug into the skin on his arms when he suddenly pulled away from her. He was taking his shirt off, and she smiled. His naked chiseled torso, the way his ribs slightly stuck out and his abs felt strong and muscular under her fingers. He smiled too and when he came towards her, he stretched out his arm to pull down the straps of her dress so that she now stood completely naked in front of him.
He seemed to be studying her nakedness, his eyes focused entirely on her body. Elaine blushed as he came towards her again, unaware of what he was thinking.
“You look more gorgeous than ever” he whispered in her ear before nibbling her earlobe and with his arms he picked her up. She wanted to tell him how gorgeous he was and how his golden hair shone in the sun and how the angles of his jaw made her heart throb with desire and that she had never seen a more beautiful man before or after in her life, but she didn’t say any of those thins. She knew that would be a mistake; for now she should simply enjoy the fact that he wasn’t being able to keep his hands off her or control the way his body reacted.
She wrapped her legs around his waist as he pushed her against the wall again, her body lifted up and suspended in the air, pressed tight against his own.
Now that her legs were spread apart, she could feel his throbbing self, growing harder and stronger with every passing second. She wanted to feel him inside her again, even though it had been a year she thought she knew exactly what it would feel like. That it would slide through inside her, but fill her up completely. It would throb inside her and for days after the sex, she would be able to feel him inside her.
When he entered her, she was unprepared and realized that she didn’t remember it in actual fact and that the sensation was as overwhelming as it had been the first time. Even though she knew it was going to happen, she didn’t expect it to feel the way it did, to make her body physically quiver and react so strangely to him. She knew then that her own physical reactions were now out of her control. He was deep inside her, and her own wetness had allowed him to slide in easily. He held her tight with his arms around her waist as he pumped into her with short swift strokes. Her head banged gently against the wall with every stroke and she could feel herself coming closer and closer to the edge.
His legs were spread wide apart in front of her, and he used all the strength of his groin to push himself into her and then pull out. His motion was quick and strong and Elaine could see how close he himself was to the edge. She tilted her head back, the feeling was overpowering and she didn’t think she would be able to hold back much longer. With her eyes closed she sensed Don reach out with one hand and grab her left breast. He squeezed it affectionately and instantly his pace increased, it was like a button for him that went off and she could feel that he was about to release.
She decided she wasn’t going to fight it either and together they moaned loudly and she called out his name. His body shuddered just as her toes curled and he emptied himself inside her, barely holding her up with his hands. The beautiful quivering that Elaine felt at the pit of her abdomen refused to subside. It came in waves as he remained inside her and she dug her nails into his flesh. He had slowed down his pace to a near stop, but just the sensation of how big he was inside her was enough for her.
It was only when Elaine opened her eyes some time later that she realized they were both lying on the floor of her apartment. She couldn’t remember how and when he had placed her beside him there. When she turned to look at him, he had his eyes closed and looked like he was sleeping. His right arm was stretched across her breast and Elaine couldn’t help but smile. She bit down on her lip and closed her eyes shut; it was like a dream come true.
The last time they had slept together, in her apartment and on her bed
, he had left immediately after the sex was over. Today he was lying beside her, his arms around her body and he seemed to be dozing. Elaine didn’t want to think about what this actually meant or what it might result in when it’s early morning, but for now she knew she was going to sleep well and dream of a man who she knew she was in love with but would never admit to.
******
He was gone in the morning. Elaine had blinked her eyes open to watch Don pulling his pants up and tiptoeing to the door. They had been lying on the floor the whole night, in each others’ arms. She didn’t call out to him to let him know that she was awake, even though it was Monday morning and she needed to get ready for work. She wanted to spare him the embarrassment for some reason, probably spare herself the embarrassment of rejection too.
As she had expected, Don didn’t call this time either. The first few days she checked her voicemail every hour, hoping that she’d missed a call. Eventually realizing that she had been a fool. For one thing, he didn’t even know how she felt about him. To him, Elaine was just another one of the many girls he slept with on a daily basis who didn’t expect anything from him other than the sex. She was the one who was at fault to allow herself to want more.
It had been over a month since she saw him, when she realized she was pregnant. The nausea in the mornings were overwhelming, her breasts were swollen and she craved apples and chocolates constantly.
I must be hormonal, she thought to herself as she sat on her mother’s still pristine white sofa sipping tea from a bone china cup. To have just suddenly turned up at mom’s place.
“So how is work darling?” Laura asked her, crossing her legs and turning a wide smile at her daughter.
“Hectic as usual, but I might need to take a short break from it” Elaine didn’t lift her eyes to meet her mother’s. She had no idea how Laura would take the news.
“Are you taking a vacation? Where are you going?” when she looked up, her mother’s eyes were brightly lit up.
“No mom. I’m pregnant”, there was no better way to do it than rip the band-aid off the skin in one go. She watched as her mother’s eyes widened in shock and she raised her hands up to cover her mouth.
“Are you sure?” were the words her mother squeaked.
“Yes, Mom. I’m about six weeks in” Elaine said and tried to smile, to encourage her mother to get over the panic that she surely was feeling.
“Who is the father?” the obvious question followed.
“I’d like to keep that a secret mom” Elaine was struggling to hold her mother’s gaze. She didn’t want to shy away from looking at her, and giving her the impression that she was ashamed in any way.
“Do you not know? Does he know?” Laura’s voice was still squeaky
“I know who the father is, but I don’t want him involved in my child’s life” Elaine said, and drained the tea from the cup and placed it on the coffee table in front of her.
“Why not? Is he a criminal?” Laura’s question made Elaine laugh, although her mother continued to look at her in horror.
“No, he’s not mom. I just don’t want him to know” she said and smiled, “I wanted to tell you because I didn’t want to keep it a secret”
“I’m glad you told me darling. And you should move in with us till the baby is born” Laura stood up to go sit beside her daughter, rubbing her back gently.
“I’m not dying or sick mom. I’m just pregnant”
“But you’ll need help Elaine. Please don’t push me away at such a time”, her mother was begging her and she realized that she had no reason to keep her mom at a distance. She liked Andrew, she missed her mom, this would be the perfect opportunity to spend some time with her again.
“I’ll think about it mom and only when I get my maternity leave” Elaine said and gave her mother’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“I really don’t understand why you won’t tell me who the father is. I didn’t even know you were in a relationship or dating” Laura shook her head, worriedly.
“Well, we hadn’t seen each other in a year and I didn’t want to discuss my personal life over the phone with you”
“So are you just going to leave him now and not give him a reason?”
“You don’t worry about it mom, I’ll figure something out. I just wanted to let you know so you’d know what to expect” Elaine started to get up but Laura held on to her hand.
“I know the situation isn’t ideal darling, but I’m happy. I’m happy that I’m going to have a grandchild” Laura smiled, a genuine smile, Elaine thought.
She hugged her mother and walked to the front door of the house.
“Oh and mom, please keep the news to yourself for sometime?” Elaine said, without turning to look at her.
“You mean I shouldn’t tell Andrew?” her mother’s voice sounded displeased and agitated. Elaine nodded silently.
“Why?” Laura came up to her and grabbed her arm. “Why should I not tell him? We tell each other everything”
“Mom, just not now. You can tell him soon, but just keep it to yourself for a few months till I can’t keep it a secret any longer” Elaine gently jerked her arm away from Laura’s grip and opened the front door.
“If you say so my dear. I won’t tell him now, but there’s nothing to hide or be ashamed of Elaine. Please know that”
Elaine stepped out of the house and adjusted her sling bag over her shoulders and smiled at her mother.
“I know that mom. I just don’t want people to know right away”
“But Andrew isn’t people. He’s your step dad”
“Mom, please, just for sometime. Don’t make me regret telling you”
“Okay okay. I won’t tell him now. But I’m excited and happy” Laura lunged forward and hugged her daughter again. Elaine patted her mother’s back.
“Me too mom. Me too” she said, uncertain whether she really meant it.
******
When Elaine opened the door the next evening, Don was standing outside with a bouquet of red roses. She stared at him blankly for a few seconds before realizing what was happening.
“Did your dad call you or my mom?” she crossed her arms across her chest.
“Dad” he said and thrust the flowers in her face.
“I asked her not to tell anybody” she said and turned around without taking the roses from him. He followed her into the apartment and closed the door behind him.
“They’re just excited that they’re going to be grandparents” he said. Elaine remained quiet and instead walked over to the kitchen counter and began pouring herself a glass of orange juice.
“So you came over here in lightening speed, to find out if it’s yours?” she sipped her juice, silently rejoicing that she hadn’t offered him any, hoping he’d get the hint that he wasn’t welcome.
“So is it?” he still had the flowers in his hands, and he stood with it in the middle of her apartment.
“How does it matter Don? I’m sure there have been women before me who’ve claimed you’ve impregnated them?” it wasn’t really a question.
“No, there haven’t been Elaine. I’ve always been careful. I lost my senses around you” he sounded serious. The usual mocking tone of his voice was gone. She laughed.
“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but like I said, it doesn’t matter. Our parents will never find out who the father is” she said and unconsciously stroked her belly. His eyes traveled to her hands, focusing on her belly as she stood, several feet away from him.
“Why not?” he asked bluntly and she laughed again.
“Because I don’t want my child to know that I conceived it from a one night stand” she looked away from him, hurting herself by saying the words.
“It wasn’t a one night stand Elaine” he dropped the bouquet on the floor and took a few steps towards her, they remained separated by the kitchen island.
“What will you call it then Don? A relationship?” she took a few more sips of her orange juice.
“So when you tiptoed out of my house that morning, is that what it was? You trying to give it a chance to grow into a relationship?” she banged the glass on the counter and crossed her arms again.
“I thought you’d want me out of the house before you woke up”, she didn’t respond to that. “You always make it seem that you despise me, you’ve said it yourself. How was I supposed to give it a chance when you couldn’t stand the sight of me” he took a few more steps towards her and Elaine could feel her body shaking, with rage and embarrassment and sadness, all combined.
“I made sure you got that impression” she nearly whispered to him.
“So you’re saying that you don’t hate me?”
“I try to hate you. After the first time we slept together and you didn’t call me back” she wasn’t looking at him, she couldn’t.
“I regretted that for the entire year. I tried to feel the same way about other women, I tried to make myself call you several times in the past few months, but I knew you’d spurn me” he had walked over, even closer to her. They were now at arm’s length from each other. Elaine could hardly believe what she was hearing. She couldn’t come up with the words.
“When I saw you that day at brunch, I didn’t know what else to do other than seduce you into having sex with me again, that was the only way I knew I would be able to get close to you again” he reached out his hand to touch her shoulder and she raised tear-filled eyes to look at him.
“I fell in love with you that first night Don. Against every instinct in me, I fell in love with the man who I thought you were. When you didn’t call the first time and didn’t call the second time either, I knew there was no chance. Now it’s too late”. She pulled away from him so that his hand dropped away from her shoulder.
“Don’t say that Elaine. It isn’t too late. Now we have a reason to give it a shot. Now you have a reason to give me a chance to prove myself to you. I want to be the father of your child. I want my child to know me” he moved closer to her, he wasn’t going to accept her attempts at pushing him away.