by Camryn Eyde
Pumping at a steady rate, I increased the tempo and began curling my fingers north as her breathing shortened to gasping pants. Pants became moans, and as I bore down on her thigh, rubbing my own scent against her leg, I pressed against her clit and thrust hard against the bundle of nerves. The result was almost instant. A sharp cry, followed by another and she was grinding with brutal force against my hand until all motion stopped.
Raised from the bed, she dropped us both as the arch in her back fell away with full body shudders. I gathered her in my arms as she rode the waves of bliss. Nuzzled against her side, my lips tendering kissing any flesh I could reach. I held her as her body, sated and spent, relaxed.
Her breath steadied, deepened and evened out, and soon, I shut my own eyes, content to rest peacefully at her side.
We slept.
Another first amongst firsts.
Chapter Six
Disorientated was the understatement of understatements when my eyes fluttered open. The view in front of me was of a gold silk duvet I had tucked under my chin, and the dark woods of someone else’s furniture contrasting against the lime wash of the walls. The pillow beneath me was cloud-soft, and for some reason, very warm.
I shifted slightly and that’s when my naked body registered another tucked close in behind it.
Liz.
A peaceful smile lit up my face.
The warmth beneath my head was her arm, and around my waist, another holding me close against her. Somewhere during our slumber, she had made me the little spoon.
My shoulders bounced a little with a silent chuckle. That didn’t surprise me in the least. She was forever dominating our encounters, and now, I realized, our history had changed. She spooned me now, but hours earlier, I had led the way in our lovemaking. I had showed her tenderness and love.
Snuggling back a little as she sighed in her sleep, I found the time to rewind and replay her earlier words. She’d said I wasn’t replaceable. That I was supposed to remain at her former company so when she snatched me away, they’d be left floundering…vulnerable. She said I was all she needed. That she planned on holding me forever.
A deep frown furrowed my brow. At the time, I had assumed she meant my role as executive assistant. I knew I was good at my job. I knew I had been headhunted on more than one occasion. What no potential employer realized, was that I had no intention of leaving Liz’s side. She needed me.
Which really, was what made her words on her last day at the office burn like caustic soda.
A memory, vivid and potent, came to me. I was sick last year with influenza, and the dreaded microscopic virus thrashed my body for nearly two weeks. After day three, the temporary assistant was caught ringing me for advice as she floundered in my role. Happy to oblige despite my raw throat and flagging energy, Liz discovered the ruse and the tongue-lashing I received for not spending my time recuperating instead, was Oscar-worthy. The next day, she had come to my embarrassment of an apartment herself with a private doctor and made me homemade chicken broth.
I returned to work only to face the usual indifference and cold shoulder. Her conflicting personality had confused me for weeks until the passage of time dimmed my memory. Now, her actions made so much more sense.
I let out a rough breath and rolled over, not caring if I woke her.
Eyes fluttered open and she stared at me with a lazy blink.
“You care for me,” I blurted out, not surprised she woke in an instant. Wariness flashed in her eyes and like I’d startled a tiny bird, her movements were jerky and flighty.
“Pardon.”
Step cautiously, I told myself. I smiled and caressed her cheek. “You care for me.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“It’s okay.”
“I don’t…I…no…whatever gave you that impression?” She scouted for exits.
I took a calculated risk. “So I could walk out your door never to return and you wouldn’t care?”
“Of course I would. I need an executive assistant. I need someone that knows how I run things. I need someone that knows my industry inside and out. I’m about to take back what is rightfully mine, and to do so, I need a running start. You are an asset to my business.”
I shrugged. “Okay.” Stretching, I chose to call her bluff. Risky, and with the massive downfall of never feeling her touch again if I was wrong, I threw back the duvet and redressed.
“Excuse me, I don’t recall dismissing you.”
“Sorry, I’ve got things to do…plants to water and such.” Picking up the shoes I’d kicked off, I left the room.
“You have nothing without me.”
If only she knew how true that statement was.
Walking to her living room, I sat to pull on my still-soggy, low-heeled pumps and was soon confronted by a robe-clad, wild-haired woman. I couldn’t help but stare, I’d never seen her so out of character. Nearly nude of makeup, her usual smooth silk-like hair was tussled and unruly, and, my mind processed in amazement, she was bare-footed. She was astonishing to look at.
“You’re not leaving until I’ve discussed the terms of the new contract with you.”
I stood, rather liking the four-inch height advantage. “If you wish, you can call tomorrow and I’ll see what I can do.”
“You’ll…what?”
I pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “It was nice seeing you again. Take care.”
She let me cross the substantial gap of floorboard between the living room and her entryway before barking at me.
“Take one more step, and I promise you, you will regret it!” That deep voice ricocheted around the room for a moment.
I turned. “Is that so? And how, how, exactly will I regret it? I’ve nothing left for you to take from me.”
She placed her hands on her hips, offended.
I tried my best to ignore the way that action parted the seams of her robe. How was I supposed to argue with her when slivers of bronze skin winked at me? I grit my teeth and concentrated on the brown of her furious eyes.
“Take from you! I’ve taken nothing and given you everything!”
That was interesting. “Everything? You mean like my career? Yes, I’m really thankful your meddling has given me the choice of checkout girl or toilet scrubber. It’s freaking wonderful!”
“I’ve already given you a career, the fact you left it has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with your self-importance. Your current level of destitution was a result of none other but yourself.”
“Yeah, well my destitution and inability to find work because of you, means I’m leaving New York.”
“What?”
The tone of voice she used was shocked, small and carried a little of what I was searching for. I nodded sharply. “There’s nothing here for me anymore.”
“I’m giving you something. I have a job for you.”
“I need more, Liz.”
“You’ll be working with me,” she said, persistent. At my silence, she continued. “You’ll have full health benefits like before. Better income. More fringe benefits.”
“Such as?”
“A-a car? Apartment in the city?”
I shook my head. “I don’t want those things.”
“Then what do you want!” Her voice rose an octave and she looked a little untamed and desperate. I’d seen that look on her when she let go at my touch. Like her emotions were flying unhindered and any hope of control was long gone.
“I only want you.”
She grunted at me. “Then you can have me! I promise, it’ll be just like before. Please, take the job.”
I shook my head. “No, Liz, I don’t want you like that.”
She looked confused and on the verge of some kind of breakdown. Crossing the distance between us, I took her hands in mine, and worry bit me when I felt her trembling. I caressed her cheek. “I do want to work for you, but that’s not how I want you.” I squeezed at her hands.
“I don’t understand.”
I lea
ned down and kissed her gently. “I’m yours, but I want you to be mine, too.”
Her forehead creased. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“I can’t give you what you’re asking for.”
“And what am I asking for?”
“Something I’m incapable of offering.”
“You’re not incapable. I see it in you when you come apart at my touch. I know you care. Why can’t you admit that?”
She shook her head. “No, I will not paint you as a target.”
“A target, for what?”
“No, Peta, I won’t do that to you.”
“Do what to me?”
“They pounce on my life enough as it is, I’m not going to allow you to become cannon fodder.”
Yep, I was completely lost. “Why am I going to war now?”
“You’ll—”
I lifted my hand to interrupt. “Liz, I’m not asking for anything, but for you to let me be yours. For you to let me in. Let me love you.”
She worked her jaw for a moment before her eyelashes lowered wickedly. Reaching out, she pulled me to her and rubbed against me. “Then love me.”
“Only if you love me back.”
She stepped backwards, shaking her head.
“Why?”
She looked confused, so I smiled at her, confusing her further. “Tell me, have you been keeping tabs on me since I left your company.”
“Former.”
“Former company.”
She fidgeted. “I’ve heard a few things.”
“From your finance expert making sure I wasn’t bankrupt?”
She pursed her lips, giving me my answer.
“You want me to work for you?”
“Yes.”
“Because I’m good at my job?”
“Yes.”
“Because I’m easy to have around?”
She scoffed. “Hardly, you’re irritating.”
I smiled. “You enjoy my company.”
She glared. “I tolerate you, I suppose.”
“You like the way I make you feel.”
“Not in the least.”
Okay, plan failed. Here I was trying to suavely make her admit she cared for me, but that answer hurt. “Oh.” I nibbled my bottom lip for a heartbeat. “Well, then. I’ll show myself out. Goodnight, Elizabeth.”
Her shoeless feet gave her a sneaky edge, and just as I was about to pull open the door, I found myself swinging around and hitting the wood with a thump. Liz held my back against the door with a palm to my sternum.
“I hate the way you make me feel,” she said.
“Well, excuse me for the hundreds of orgasms I gave you. That must have been terrible to endure.”
Her lips pursed at my sarcasm. “I’m not talking about the sex, I’m talking about what you did in there.” She pointed to her bedroom. “I’m talking about what you do in here.” Her free hand hit her chest with a muted thud. “It’s about that time you were sick, and when you walked out on your job. Do you have any idea what you’ve done to me?” She used my chest as a push off point and stepped back.
Rubbing the bones I was sure she just cracked, I frowned.
“You’ve turned me into this!” she said with a raised voice, gesturing to herself. I couldn’t help but look at her from tip to toe.
Damn she was sexy.
She was disheveled, out of control, and I knew that must have been like a thorn in her OCD life. Liz Morris may not be admitting it aloud, but she was all kinds of messy over me. I grinned like the mouse that stole the cheese right off the spring-loaded trap. What a cunning little critter I was. Quietly sneaking up and stealing her heart right out from under her cute button nose. “I like this,” I said after my inspection of her overwhelmed body language.
“Well I don’t!” Her scream sounded hysterical.
“Sorry,” I said with a shrug.
My unapologetic tone earned a snarl and severely narrowed eyes. “Yes, you damn well will be.”
Rushing over and taking my hand, she marched me to her bedroom and punished me in the most pleasurable of ways.
All day.
Chapter Seven
Life carried on after the interlude in her apartment, but with several key changes. Her new business thrived, my position as executive assistant came with a pay raise and some rather lucrative fringe benefits, and I practically lived at her downtown apartment.
And now, I was about to ruin everything.
“Idiot,” I muttered, fingering the item in my pocket for the millionth time that day. Yesterday, after six months of having the world’s most dysfunction girlfriend-girlfriend relationship, Liz had handed me a key on a silver chain complete with diamond inset.
She gave it to me almost distractedly, and said after a delicate sniff, “Considering half your wardrobe is cluttering my closet, I thought it only fitting you match it with the remainder of your discount clothing.”
I suppressed a grin. In Liz-talk, she just asked me to move in with her.
“Some of those clothes come with books, kitchen utensils and a few knick-knacks. That okay?”
She scowled at me and waved a hand around. “Whatever.”
She was cute when she was obtuse.
Now, the work day receded into the Fourth of July long weekend and the office was all but abandoned. Our new location, directly across the river from the old offices, had rooftop access, and from what I was told, it was a glorious summer’s night outside. I knocked on her door and entered.
“Liz?”
“Mmm?” she said, not looking up from the paperwork in front of her.
“Time to go.”
Again she flicked a hand in my direction. “You go on ahead, I have to finish this.”
“No, you don’t,” I said, coming up behind her and wheeling her chair around. Grabbing her hands, yanked her to her feet.
“Do you mind!”
“Not really.”
She huffed but allowed me to lead her away. I considered that a significant step forward in our relationship. Continuously distant, her tight need for control had ever-so-subtly slackened and I discovered there were many things I could get away with now. Like being bossy or snagging the remote control.
“Where are we going?” she asked as I pressed a new button.
“Up.”
“To where?”
“Here,” I said as the short ride ended. Grabbing her hand, I guided her out of the lift and through the short corridor leading outside. Pushing the heavy metal door outwards, I swept my hand in the direction of the chaise lounge sitting beneath the employee gazebo. Lit with candlelight, a picnic basket sat on the low coffee table waiting for us.
“What’s going on?”
She sounded nervous.
“A romantic dinner.”
She refused to budge and shook her head. “Peta, I don’t do romance.”
This from the woman that spent last weekend seducing me with poems and a tickly feather. “Yeah, yeah,” I said, tugging her over to the setup anyway.
We ate in silence and I received an appreciative sigh at my choice of wine. Sighing and relaxing against the lounge, I sprung my trap.
Kneeling in front of her, I waited. “Liz?”
“Mmm?” she said, not lifting her eyelids.
“Sweetheart?”
That got a reaction and she looked at me and my one-legged kneel. Stiffening, she sat up quickly. “No, Peta, don’t.”
“Too late.” I pulled the delicate and understated diamond ring from my pocket. She inhaled sharply and stared at the ring. She began to shake her head. I smiled and shook mine also. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t go and make this a battle of wills and debate about how you’re incapable of caring for someone. You know I see through you, right? Yes, you’re a hard-arse bitch a majority of the time, but when you’re in my arms, you’re a beautiful fragile flower, and honey, I want you to bloom for me for the rest of my life.”<
br />
She looked pensive and stared at the ring again.
“I love you. Be my forever girlfriend?”
She looked amused at my choice of proposal phrasing. “Peta…” she said, shaking her head again.
“Elizabeth.”
She looked at my pleading face. “I’m not very nice.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I’m not good at expressing how I feel.”
“Sometimes, you are.”
“I’m hard work.”
“None of this is news to me, and I want you despite it all.” I took her hands in mine and squeezed. Leaning up, I whispered in her ear. “Say yes.”
“I don’t know how to be what you need,” she whispered back.
“Yes, you do.”
She kept shaking her head, and avoiding an answer, she let her feelings explode in a carnal dance. As usual. This was where I felt that raw emotion that she so carefully harnessed, and as she shoved me roughly to the lounge, I thanked every deity known to man that I got to experience her passion.
She ripped open my blouse, surprising us both with how needy she was as buttons shot into the darkness. With a groan she shoved my skirt to my hips and did the same with hers before falling forward and mouthing one of my latex-bound nipples. As she rubbed the other one to erection, I knew from experience that this was about to be fast and rough. I nearly orgasmed at the thought. After nipping at my soaked nipple, she moved to the other breast and began rubbing up against me. I clutched at her firm buttocks and assisted her need. Each rock rubbed her thigh against my rapidly dampening panties and mine against hers.
Damn, she was so moist and hot.
“I want you…now,” she said, clamping her teeth on my nipple. Moving to suckle at my neck, she lifted her hips just enough for me to dip my hand into her lace-clothed sex. I wasted no time plunging into her and earned a content hum against my throat in reward. She ground against my appendages for a few heartbeats and then quickly found my soaked slit to give me the same treatment.
“Oh, Liz…yes,” I breathed out, bucking against her hand.
Her head fell against my shoulder as she moaned. Concentrating on finding a rapid conclusion to our coupling, our breathing shortened to shallow gasps as the air filled with the sweet sounds of fingers against tight, wet holes.
