by Alexis Gold
Andrea gasped and her mouth fell open as she looked at Naomi in amazement. “What? When did that happen?”
Naomi shrugged. “A few weeks ago.” She grinned again and sighed happily. “It’s been amazing.”
“How in the world did that ever happen?” Andrea asked, confounded.
“Well…. It just kind of happened. There’s a woman who is a friend of his family’s, and she came by the office to try to talk him into going on a date with her. I saw her once before at an event at the Cross Mansion, in fact, I met her. She’s horrible. So mean and hateful: like a little viper. Anyway, I guess she’s been after Jonathon for a long time and she keeps trying to talk him into being with her, but he keeps telling her no and she won’t take the hint.” Naomi rolled her eyes, thinking of the afternoon she had seen Susan in Jonathon’s office.
Andrea watched her, open mouthed, taking in every word that Naomi was telling her, her hand wrapped around her mug of tea, which was lifted halfway to her mouth, but was frozen in midair.
Naomi sighed. “Jonathon’s father called and insisted that I go interrupt him because Jonathon wasn’t answering his phone. I tried to tell him I shouldn’t do it, but he wasn’t listening, so I went into Jonathon’s office and walked in on Susan trying to kiss Jonathon. You should have seen it when he saw me; he pushed her away so fast, but I was really upset about it, and Susan was horrible.
"I left, but then he called me back in right after he kicked her out and I went in, thinking he was going to get mad at me for interrupting his visit with her, but he just grabbed me and kissed me, and I kind of melted right there on the spot.” She sighed and smiled, thinking of how incredible it was to be with him that afternoon.
“I never thought anything would happen between us; I thought it was only going to be our business relationship, right down the line, but things got really hot really fast between us, and it was the most amazing time I’ve ever had with a man. Ever. We’ve just kept going. We’re like newlyweds… we just can’t keep our hands off of each other, and I’ll tell you what, I wouldn’t change what happened for anything. No matter what happens between him and me in the future, I’m so glad we have what we have had.” She grinned and lifted her mug to her lips, sipping on the hot tea in it.
Andrea finally set her mug down on the table and eyed her friend carefully for a long quiet moment, and then she crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.
“You haven’t told him, have you?” she asked in an almost accusatory voice.
Naomi blinked and set her mug down. “Told him what?” she asked innocently.
Andrea leaned forward and sighed, her eyes piercing Naomi’s. “You haven’t told him that you’re in love with him, have you? You haven’t bothered to mention that this isn’t just a hot little fling for you.”
Naomi looked away from her friend, her eyes carefully studying the bottom of her teacup. She slid her spoon into it and began to stir her tea, swirling it around slowly as she pressed her lips together. “It’s okay, that it’s just a fling…” she said quietly.
Andrea clucked her tongue and shook her head, leaning back in her chair and frowning at her friend. “Naomi, you are going to have to admit it at some point. You can’t just go around having a torrid affair with him while you’re in love with him, getting so deeply involved on an emotional level, and then when it ends and he’s ready to see someone else or just stop seeing you, you’re going to have a huge heartbreak to deal with.
What are you thinking?” she asked incredulously. “You have to tell him. He needs to know how you feel so he can cool things down between the two of you or at least make some good decisions about what to do between the two of you.”
Naomi looked up at her in silence and watched her.
“I’m not saying stop sleeping with him; I’m saying put it all out there so he knows what’s going on. Don’t leave your heart in the corner like that while he has no idea how you really feel, and just wait for him to break it. You might be able to figure out a way to work it out so that you don’t get your heart broken when it ends; or at least broken as badly. Don’t risk that! Tell him! Be honest with him!” she insisted, shaking her head.
Breathing a long heavy sigh, Naomi set her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm, looking at Andrea. “I guess you’re right. I guess maybe I should tell him. It’s just that we are having such fun right now, and I don’t want to ruin it or change it.”
Andrea leaned closer to her. “He’s having fun. You’re falling more in love with him. I wish you could see yourself right now. Seriously. You’re completely enamored. You’re head over heels, and I know it feels good now, but if you don’t at least slow down, this is going to hurt you like hell later, and I’m just trying to look out for you, because I’m going to be the one there trying to pick up the pieces when it happens.”
Naomi pushed her lower lip out a bit and pouted slightly. “I know you are. I’m lucky to have you, and you’re right, but I just wish it could go on just like it is.”
Andrea shook her head again. “That’s not going to happen.”
“I know it.” Naomi sighed thoughtfully. “I just want to hold on to what we have going on now for as long as I can.”
“Honesty is the best policy.” Andrea said matter-of-factly as she picked up her tea and sipped it.
Naomi nodded and her shoulders dropped a little. Her best friend was right and she knew it. She and Jonathon hadn’t been able to keep their hands off of each other, whether it was in his office, his limo, in her apartment, or in the occasional hotel room. The two of them were like molten magnets for each other, the pull between them was powerful, and both of them were insatiably hungry for one another.
The physical aspect of the bond between them was passion driven, and their friendship was growing stronger, but she had no doubt in her heart at all that he was not in love with her, as she was with him. She knew it, deep in her heart, and she kept herself from thinking about it, always pushing it to the back of her mind and turning her thoughts to the good things between them.
Andrea was right in saying that it would hurt her later, and she hated admitting it to herself. The idea of telling Jonathon that she was in love with him seemed impossible to her, but bit by bit, she realized that it was a fact she was going to have to share with him. She knew it would ease the heartache later, when their bond changed and ended. She had no idea how or when she would tell him, but in her heart of hearts, she knew that she did indeed have to tell him.
***
Naomi and Jonathon shared a heated hour of passion in his office and were just redressing when there was a knock at his office door, and both of them panicked as they pulled their clothes back on and tried to straighten themselves up before opening the door to whoever was there.
She was just fixing her lipstick when Jonathon opened the door and his father stalked in. Phillip’s eyes went to Naomi and he peered closely at her, eyeing all of her carefully before he turned his gaze slowly to Jonathon, who was straightening his tie. Phillip’s eyes narrowed and he glared hotly at his son for a long silent moment, and then the older man spoke to Naomi without so much as turning around to face her.
“Miss Bradshaw, you may go back to your office.” He spoke sternly and he gritted his teeth.
She nodded quietly and shot a nervous look toward Jonathon, who shook his head imperceptibly at her. She left, closing the door behind her, and the moment it clicked, Phillip took a good look at his son.
“I seriously hope that you weren’t just in any kind of a compromising position with that young woman.” His eyes were like steel on his son.
Jonathon gulped and took a fast breath, shaking his head fervently. “No, of course not. We were just… working. It was a little warm in here, that’s all. She is an employee, and nothing more.” He hoped that he sounded much more convincing than he felt.
Phillip did not look away from him or even blink. “Why do I find that almost impossible to believe?” he asked accusingly
.
Jonathon shrugged and walked over to his desk, trying to make light of the situation while remaining calm. “I know I don’t have a great track record, father, but I assure you, there is nothing going on between Naomi and I. You just worry because of a few other regrettable mistakes I’ve made in the past. That’s all. Please don’t trouble yourself over it.” He took a seat in his chair behind the desk and looked up at his father with a light expression.
“What can I do for you today, father?” he asked casually.
Phillip walked toward him, his eyes locked on his son. “You can be honest with me for once. That would be a great start. I’m not stupid, Jonathon. I know a tawdry scene when I walk in on one. I told you that if I found out that you were screwing any more of the staff here, that I would fire you.”
Jonathon watched him quietly, though his heart was nearly pounding out of his chest.
“I was serious about that!” his father shot at him angrily.
Jonathon nodded subtly. “I know you were father, and that’s why I’m not taking any chances with anyone here, especially Naomi.”
His father walked to the front of his desk and leaned down and gave him a treacherous glare. “I’m not taking any chances with you. I have not worked this hard all of my life to build up the dynasty that I have created with every intention of handing it over to you, just to have you blow it. You’re not going to risk your future or a lifetime of my hard work any longer. You and I are going to have dinner with Vincent and Susan tomorrow night at home, and you are going to seriously consider making Susan a permanent part of your life. Do you understand me?” his father nearly growled at him.
Jonathon knew that his father wanted him to date Susan, and he knew that Susan’s father wanted it as well. He sighed and nodded, knowing that there would be no other acceptable response other than an acquiescence.
“Of course, father. I’ll be sure to be there for dinner tomorrow night.” He said quietly, lifting his eyes to meet Phillip’s.
Phillip stood back up and looked down at his son. “Good. See you at six tomorrow night. You had better be there, and you had better not be late.”
Jonathon nodded and watched as his father walked out of his office. When he was alone, he closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands. He realized that as much as he wanted Naomi, and as hungry as he constantly was for her, he might have to change things between them, or keep them as far undercover as he possibly could. He would not risk losing his job at Cross Corp.
Jonathon could not get his father’s angry eyes out of his mind all afternoon, and things between him and Naomi were quiet and businesslike the remainder of the day, and into the next morning, until she came back from lunch and walked into his office to give him a file he needed.
She had been quiet and a little withdrawn since his father had practically walked in on them, and her silence and distance bothered Jonathon immensely. He watched her as she set the file on his desk and turned to walk away. She was wearing a skirt that he loved to see on her; it was full and loose, and it swirled around her thighs when she walked. She had paired it with a button up sweater and heels, and the innocent and sexy look she gave off in the outfit drew an ache to his groin that he could not control.
“Naomi…” he called out to her. She stopped and turned to look back at him. Her light blue eyes looked clouded with deep emotion and she drew in a breath and sighed.
“Yes?” she asked in a light tone.
He tilted his head slightly as his eyes stayed on hers. “Come here, please,” he asked gently.
She walked toward him, and all the while he held their shared gaze steady. He felt as if he was looking into her, through her, and he didn’t want to look away. “What’s troubling you?” he asked as she reached the corner of his desk, standing there looking down at him with a slight pout of her lower lip.
She shrugged. “Nothing… I just…” she hesitated.
“Tell me.” He said, reaching his hand out to take hers and closing his fingers around it, drawing her closer to him.
She bit her lower lip. “It’s your father. I feel like he knows what’s going on between us and I’m uncomfortable with that. He looked so angry yesterday. I felt awful about it.”
Jonathon gave her a little smile and drew her up beside his chair. His eyes slid slowly over the curve of her breasts, her narrow waist, and her hips that were so near his face. His heart began to beat faster and he felt the ache in him grow stronger as his body heated. He let go of her hand and placed his fingers on her leg, just beneath the hem of her skirt.
He looked back up at her as he slid his fingers up the front of her thigh to her panties, where he rubbed his thumb firmly over the core of her, back and forth, making her close her eyes and moan softly as she put her hand to his shoulder to steady herself.
There was nothing in the world that felt as good to her as his touch, and his touch was able to bring out a desire in her that she had never felt for anyone else.
“Don’t worry about my father. I told him that there isn’t anything going on between us. We’re fine…” he said quietly as he reached his other hand up her skirt and slid her panties off of her. She gasped quietly as they fell to the floor and he lifted her skirt, drawing his face to her body, kissing her hard and hungrily as his hands closed over her hips and he moved her in front of him to straddle him as he sat in his chair.
“I am not going to give you up. Don’t even think about that.” He whispered as his mouth moved over her body and his tongue slid in and out of her, making her cry out in pleasure.
She felt fire racing through her and with every passing second, she wanted him more. In moments his pants were off of him, and he pulled her down onto his lap, her legs parted on either side of him as she neared the stiffness of his desire. His fingers raced over the buttons on her sweater and he pulled it open and lifted her breasts from her bra, bringing them to his mouth and sucking ardently on her hardened dark nipples.
She grew breathless with anticipation, knowing how good it was going to feel with him moving inside of her, and not wanting to wait as his mouth moved over her breasts, biting and sucking, she raised herself up over his erection and slid him into her slowly, making them both groan with need.
Naomi rocked her hips back and forth over his, clinging to his neck as he buried his face in the soft fleshy curves of her breasts, his hands clenching her hips as he pulled her hard against him, driving himself deeply into her.
Hearts pounding, skin beading with sweat, his teeth and tongue torturing her nipples, she felt the passion in her rise and he knew it. He lifted his mouth from her flesh and groaned, “Come for me, baby… come hard….” and as he said it, she could not hold it back and she did; her soft moans filling his ears and bringing him to his own climax.
He filled her body deeply with his orgasm; his burning release flooding her as they trembled and held tightly to each other. He buried his face in her breasts once more and tried to slow his breath and everything in his body.
“I’m not letting you go. I’m never letting you go. I can’t.” he whispered, and then he looked up at her, and saw a strange sadness in her beautiful eyes. She shook her head and lowered her mouth to his, kissing him sensually.
“Someday you’ll have to. You’ll just have to. We won’t have a choice,” she breathed as she kissed him again. She hugged him and held him to her heart tightly for a long silent minute, and then she let her arms fall away from him. She slid off of his lap and stood up, redressing herself as he watched her with an intense gaze.
He did not say anything else to her, and she walked out and went to her office, partly in bliss over the passion they had shared, and partly heartbroken, because she knew that she would have to tell him that she was in love with him, and she knew that telling him that would end the heated affair they loved so well.
She sat at her desk and covered her eyes with her hands, wondering what in the world she was going to do about the predicament she had put herself i
nto. She wanted nothing more than to be able to see him and keep spending time with him, no matter what kind of time it was, but she also knew that their bond would have an end date. There was no way it could continue when he found out how she really felt about him, and there was nothing she could do to delay the inevitability of what she knew would come.
Her phone rang and she sighed and looked at it. Reaching for the receiver, she answered it with a smile and a friendly tone. “This is Naomi, how may I help you?” she asked lightly. She didn’t feel nearly as light as she sounded.
“Hello, Naomi, this is Justin Drake. I’m from Jupiter Inc. How are you doing today?” he asked in an airy voice.
She blinked. Jupiter Inc. was a direct competitor of Cross Corp, and Justin Drake was a young senior vice president at the company. She couldn’t begin to imagine why he might be calling her.
“I’m good, thank you Mr. Drake.” She answered him politely. “How are you doing?”
“Fine, fine, thank you. Please, call me Justin.” He offered in a friendly tone.
She sighed and nodded. “Okay, thank you, Justin. What can I do for you today? Are you looking for Jonathon Cross?” she asked, sure that that was why he was on her phone.
He chuckled. “No, I’m not really.” He answered her and she could hear the smile on his face. “I’m actually looking for you. I am well aware of your work. You have a reputation in our industry that has no peer. No one works the way that you do, and I know you are working hard at Cross, but I would like to offer you a job here, at Jupiter.”
Her heart skipped several beats and she blinked in surprise.
“I understand that it may seem a little unorthodox to offer you the job like this, calling you up and talking to you about it while you are there at work, but I have given it a lot of thought and done some research on you, and I am interested enough in hiring you to be here that I am willing to forgo standing on ceremony with this.
"I’m going to email you an offer, and I want you to take a good look at it, and let me know what you think. If there are any changes in my offer that would make you want to leave Cross and come to work for me, then just let me know. I’m willing to make some compromises to get you over here,” he told her with blunt honesty.
