by Ally Adams
TOMÁS: Hello Cookie, home from training, showered, & lying on bed thinking of U. Confirming U want 2 hang out Fri night?
Ah this man made my heart race. I think I hugged my phone to my chest. Just one small problem, being the new girl I found out today that Jim had signed me up for two half-day marketing workshops on Friday and Saturday which included two night functions and lots of good opportunities for networking. It was good of him, but I really wanted the Friday night tongue class with my favorite teacher. My heart raced just thinking about it and I was thinking about it a lot.
Me: Wud luv 2 hang w you, but found out this pm, I’ve got conference Fri & Sat nights. Won’t finish until after 10
Tomás: All good. Got Sunday game so will b training both days & having quiet nites in. cum round after
Me: mite b late
Tomás: I’ll b up, really up, & waiting
Me: Cute. Will do.
Tomás: Ready 4 your homework?
Me: Ready, teacher.
Tomás: Answer following... honestly.
Me: Okay, shoot.
Tomás: wud U rather I made U cum in a crowded restaurant or in a cinema?
My breath caught and I almost fanned myself for the heat level that had just risen in my room. I had to think about these answers carefully in case he really made them happen; this could be a research mission after all.
Tomás: U can only pick 1
Me: Cinema.
Tomás: wud U rather I made U cum in nature or in a scented bath?
The way this was going, I was going to come by my own hand pretty soon.
Me: Nature. Can I ask research questions?
Tomás: No, student. wud U rather sleep your 1st nyt next 2 me naked or in lingerie?
Naked, I think. But then again, maybe I really would prefer lingerie so I wasn’t totally exposed, but somehow I suspect Tomás would prefer naked especially as that implies we’ve already done it. And if I was naked, it would be skin on skin. Tough one. I decided to go for the naked option and hope he was still awake.
Me: Naked
Tomás: Wud U rather b tied up or spanked.
Good grief! I slipped a finger into my panties... oh yes, Tomás Carrera could make me so wet with just with a few text messages.
Tomás: Clock is on. Don’t make me delay tongue class cuz you haven’t done h/w
I quickly texted back.
Me: Umm, I haven’t done either... I don’t know. Need experimenting.
Would he now do both? Damn, I should have chosen.
Tomás: Very good answer, Cookie. Flowers or chocolates?
Me: Flowers
That’s an easy one.
Tomás: Class over. C U 2moro night L8, 4 tongue class. slp well, Cookie. Xx
Me: How can I sleep after that?
Tomás: Do wot I’m doin. Take matters in 2 your own hands.
Me: You’re a tuf teacher
Tomás: No touching yourself from 2moro morn. I want U wired.
Me: Can’t W8 2 C U
Tomás: Can’t W8 2 lick all of U
Oh God, that did it, I had to finish the job myself and it was all over in seconds.
Chapter 18
I was so lucky to be in a new job otherwise the time I spent waiting to see Tomás would have seemed like a hundred years. But with so much new stuff on the agenda, it was a great distraction. The Friday conference was fun; people shared their event experience, clever themes and results. I didn’t have anything to share except a few bridezilla tales which I kept to myself; most event people had had those experiences.
On the first afternoon of the conference I wandered in to find about fifty other people like myself, all looking lost. I picked up my nametag and got adopted by a similarly lost person.
“So, here to present or here to learn?” a male voice asked.
I turned to find a guy about a head taller than me and a few years older holding the events welcome kit and offering me a smile that would have had any normal girl thinking, ‘hello this conference is looking up’.
“Um, to learn. I’ve got nothing,” I said. “And you?” I looked to his name tag, “...Dane Frazier.”
“Well, Alice Peterson,” he said reading my name tag. “I’m here to do both, but thank God I’m presenting on the first day so I can have a drink tonight and stop freaking out about it.” He frowned. “Well that was uncool; I wish I hadn’t said that out loud.”
I laughed. “I love your honesty Dane Frazier.”
I checked him out; no one could compare to Tomás, but I was always looking for potential match-ups for Cassie, Melissa and now Sasha. Still, a guy who looked as hot as Dane Frazier probably had a girl. He was slim and tall. He might have had some muscles but I couldn’t tell with the black jacket he was wearing over a white button down shirt with jeans and boots. He had a good head—OMG, I had been at the club a week and I was talking like some of the players. Dane had prominent blue eyes and dark hair that looked as though it hadn’t seen a comb but which suited him.
“What do you do?” I asked. “Or have I got to wait for the presentation?”
“No, I’ll treat you to a preview,” he teased. “I work for the major film companies. I do events for major sponsors and benefactors prior to the film launch.” He shrugged. “Sometimes they are fundraisers, sometimes just publicity events or to thank sponsors.”
“Wow, that sounds fantastic,” I said. “I’ve just started work for the Saints, but when I grow up, I want to create great events for movie companies too!”
Dane laughed. “I wouldn’t mind a gig with the Saints. They’re having a good season.”
“Three wins out of four,” I agreed.
“Got to be happy with that,” he said.
“Are you into soccer?” I asked.
“I’m more of a football guy, but I’ll pretty much watch any sport.”
The room was filling up around us and two women joined us and introduced themselves as conference organizers. I kept the cards they offered; who knew when I might be looking for my next job. A voice over the speaker invited all of us to enter the main room for the conference to begin.
“After you,” Dane said, and we headed into the huge room which had been set up for the delegates. There were probably three hundred or so people in attendance. Tonight was a get-to-know you dinner and tomorrow night was an event ball. I’d hate the pressure of preparing an event ball for event people! It really was good of my boss Jim to send me to a conference that must have cost him at least a thousand dollars or so from his budget, especially when I had been there for only a week. It was a show of faith that made me determined to give him good value for money... in the work sense of course. I shuddered at the thought of anything else with Jim. Thank God he was happily married, or so Kay told me.
Dane sat next to me and we planted ourselves about half way up the room and on the end of the aisle so that he could get out of the row quickly to give his presentation. It was nice to be sitting next to someone I knew sort of, even if we met only a minute ago.
“When are you on?” I asked.
“Third speaker, so in about an hour’s time,” he said with a glance to his watch. I couldn’t blame him for being nervous presenting in front of a huge group like this. Every now and then his leg kept its own beat until he realized, straightened up and harnessed his nerves.
The first speaker finished, the second speaker followed and was much quicker. While Dane waited to be introduced a gorgeous blonde seated in front of us, and I mean gorgeous, turned around and had a quick chat to Dane. She didn’t notice me, which is fair enough and I had a quick chat to the super fit looking woman in her late thirties sitting on the other side of me. She explained that she ran her business from home and specialized in events for the health industry.
“You know, fun runs, open days, trade shows, major boot camps, that sort of thing,” she explained. “I like to get to a couple of conferences a year just to see if there’s anything new happening.”
“It’s
my first,” I explained and I complimented her, telling her that she looked super fit, which she did—I had won a friend. Then I heard Dane’s name being called and I turned and wished him luck. He got a warm round of applause and he glanced towards me, giving me a look that said ‘notice me’. He began and I realized he needn’t have worried; he turned on the charm and was a bit of a ham. It definitely wasn’t the first presentation Dane had ever done. At the end, a few people raised their hands with questions
The gorgeous blonde in front raised her hand and asked, “What has been your personal favorite event, Dane?”
I had the feeling she wanted to organize her own event with Dane after hours.
“Well, Kelly, the Titanic might have sunk, but there was no iceberg in sight for the event our agency did; it was a huge hit.”
The audience laughed and a few people called for more details. Dane obliged.
“Our film publicity agency wanted to celebrate ten years in business so we picked one of the biggest films in history as the theme. Two hundred guests—all VIPS—were invited and had to come in costume representing the era of the Titanic. We gathered everyone for drinks in the foyer of the five-star Grand Hotel and then moved them in for dinner by opening the grand ballroom doors. We hired actors in costume to stand on the level above them and throw streamers as they moved through the doors, as though the ship was departing.” Dane stopped for effect as we all oohed-and-aahed at the fun of it.
He continued. “We had a small orchestra playing and the staff was all in costume. At the back of the room was a huge Styrofoam iceberg with dry ice so it gave the appearance of being very cold and very threatening. We did lots of things, as Kelly will remember.”
Kelly stood up. “One of the waiters came to my table and told me it was time for my swimming lessons.” The audience laughed again.
Dane wrapped up and came back to sit beside me. Kelly turned and gave him a winning smile.
“Bravo,” I said to him, “that was great. Your job sounds amazing.”
“Thanks.” He shrugged modestly. “Now I can chill for the rest of the conference.” He exhaled.
The convener called for a break.
“Let’s get a coffee.” Dane nudged me.
Kelly turned and gave me a territorial look.
“Coming for a coffee?” I invited her and she cheered up no end. Hey, I was happy to share; I had my hands full right now with a certain soccer super star. A week earlier, Dane might have been on my shopping list.
*****
There were a few hours break after the conference and before the getting-to-know-you dinner so, I raced home, had a shower and packed an overnight bag for staying at Tomás’s place, in Tomás’s bed, with Tomás’s tongue working wonders. Right, I was back now but that was a great trip... I sent him a text.
Me: Can’t W8 2 C U 2nt. Don’t txt back I know U R @ training
My phone beeped moments later.
Tomás: Just heading there now. C U 2nt. Bring your tongue.
Well that was tonight’s event shot—I’d have Tomás and his tongue on my mind for the rest of the night. I changed into underwear to impress Tomás—how lucky that Mia and I had gone lingerie shopping just before I met Tomás—it was fate! Sure, anyway, I was wearing a flesh-colored lace bra and panties set in floral semi-sheer mesh, with scalloped edging. I was hoping not to have them on for long tonight. Over the top of my new lingerie, I slipped on a black silk flowing dress that was not too dressy but which would get me through cocktail hour at the event and into bed with Tomás. That was the main event after all.
Drinks and the dinner were scheduled to kick off at seven p.m., so I rocked in around quarter past the hour to minimize the amount of small talk I’d have to do. I’m a people person, but I’d been ‘peopling’ all day and small talk wasn’t my thing. I entered the room and heard my name called. I turned to find a fellow student from my events classes at college. We all juggled part-time jobs and now I was juggling a full-time job for the last few months of the semester.
“Katie, hey, I didn’t know you were working this gig!” I said.
“I do Friday and Saturday nights here every week. Drink?” she asked.
“Yeah, thanks.” I grabbed a champagne off her tray. “Wish you could have one with me. I’d love the company.”
“Me too,” she sighed, “but have tray, must roll.”
I grinned, gave her a wave as she headed off and turned to find Dane waving to me from across the room. He looked hot, very hot, and luckily I only had eyes for Tomás and I didn’t really notice. There were quite a few hotties at the conference but more women than men, so Dane wouldn’t go home empty handed if he was on the market. I waved back and was about to head over when Josie from Planet Events arrived. Her eyes lit up on seeing me which was really kind, but she was always a bit neurotic.
“Daarrrlliing, how I miss you,” she said, rolling her eyes and reaching for a glass of champagne as it went past. “The student who has replaced you is vacant.”
There’s the pot calling the kettle black but it’s always nice to be missed.
“I had hopes you would come and work with me after you graduated,” she said.
“That’s so good of you Josie,” I said. Praise the god of small mercies for sparing me that. I tapped my glass against hers in a cheers salute. “I didn’t see you today,” I said.
“No, I only bought the function pack which includes the two functions so I can mingle and network but not attend the presentations or workshops. I don’t have time for those. You know what it’s like,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Dane interrupted us. I appraised him in his dark suit and red patterned tie—he looked very suave. I introduced him and Josie, and I saw her eyes examine him with interest—she was old enough to be his big sister with five siblings in between. Which reminded me of Tomás, ah, Tomás. I glanced at my watch; when would this be over?
“You look a bit like that guy from the all-boy band, but an older version,” Josie said, clicking her fingers and trying to recall his name. “The One Direction guy.”
“Yeah, I get that a bit,” Dane said, and turned to face me. “You look great.” His blue eyes appraised me.
“Ah, thanks,” I said, surprised. I’d forgotten Dane was a guy; I only had a heartbeat for Tomás at the moment. Seriously, I’d fallen into Tomás way too fast... danger, danger Will Robinson or Alice Peterson.
“Harry!” Josie said, looking pleased with herself. “That’s it, you look like an older version of Harry.” She continued to appraise Dane.
“Ah thanks, I think.” Dane smiled at her.
“Oh yes, definitely a compliment,” she said.
Dane turned to me. “So, sit next to me tonight?” he asked without it being a question really.
“Sure, that would be nice,” I said, pleased I wouldn’t have to work too hard, especially if Kelly worked her way on to the other side of Dane.
Just before eight p.m., a little bell rang and we were seated. Dane led me to a table and Kelly did a record dive across the room to sit next to him—it was a fine effort on her behalf, I took my hat off to her. On my other side, a very large and homely lady took the seat. She told me she organized children’s events and then proceeded to tell me in great detail about it. Luckily, Dane saved me a couple of times.
I wanted to leave a few times during the night but I couldn’t duck out when the speeches were on or when I was required to play networking team games. Sigh. I sneaked to the ladies’ just after ten-thirty and thought I would keep going but Dane was onto me as I rose from the table.
“You’re escaping aren’t you?” he asked. He looked even better after a few champagnes and with his tie off, his tan showing through the open V of his shirt.
I grinned and nodded. “See you tomorrow.”
“Alice, come on!” He gave me a pleading look.
“I think you’ll be just fine.” I raised my eyebrows to the interest he was attracting.
He shook his head
. “Fine then, abandon me in my hour of need.” He grinned at me.
I patted his arm with a mock show of sympathy and got out of there. By the time I cleared the parking lot and arrived to Tomás’s street it was nearing eleven-fifteen. I knew his training schedule and he had a seven o’clock session in the morning, which would mean he had to be up after six or so to get there. I didn’t want to rush tongue class but I’d happily cancel that and just curl up with him for the night. The guys couldn’t afford to party or have too many late nights in-season; there was a lot riding on it—million dollar contracts.
As I drove down the street, I saw his entire house was in darkness. Damn, did I go in or not? I pulled over and reached for my phone. There were no text messages from him. I debated what to do... even if he had one light on I would have felt better. Was he cheesed off because I was super late? My finger hovered over the text send button but seriously, the whole house was in complete darkness. If he wanted to see me he would have left a light on somewhere, or texted to check up on my arrival time.
I turned and headed home. I know it was only one day since I saw him at the press conference but it was a lifetime to my heart. I felt an overwhelming wave of disappointment bringing me down. I had thought of nothing else all day but seeing him but I couldn’t bring myself to be a selfish bitch and wake him, or risk his wrath since he’d packed it in without waiting for me. He might have been exhausted and crashed early. I hoped he was home and not... no, that was just silly. I buried that doubt.
I headed to my own lonely bed where I would take off my lingerie and go to sleep.
Chapter 19
My phone rang at just after six o’clock in the morning, startling me into the wake zone. I grabbed it quickly so I didn’t wake Dad and Ryan.
“Hello?” I mumbled, not even looking at the caller I.D.
“Cookie,” the voice said. It was low and threatening.
“Tomás.” I sat up. “I missed you last night.”
