The Reconstruction of Cyprian

by Michelle Love

  I showered and went to class dressed in a skirt and sweater for the office after to save time. It was chilly out, but my tights and jacket took the edge off of the cold as I sipped coffee and tried to focus on class as I wrote down notes. A lot of the students used laptops, but I found that writing it helped me to remember, something I learned early on. Most of the time I’d rewrite them into a file for study purposes to further the process. I had a hard time making sense of what I was writing today and downed the last of the coffee as I frowned and looked at the board.

  I grabbed a muffin before my next class and another coffee with a sigh. Everyone drank coffee all day at work too, and I suspected that I wouldn’t be able to avoid the addiction for too much longer. So far, I’d just treated it as something special when I was fatigued.

  When I stepped off of the bus to go to the office, I glanced around to see a coffee shop on the corner, followed by another one down the street. I laughed and watched as the door opened to the further one and Damon stepped out with Brent, taking my breath away. He was dressed in his regular suit, something that he even managed to improve with a crisp black jacket. I took him in and realized that he always looked so perfect, not a hair out of place or ever shabby.

  Apart from yesterday. Yesterday, he’d looked a little messy after the elevator. I watched as he turned his head to look down the street to meet my eyes, feeling everything come back to me from the day before. Even with the distance, I could see his irises darken, and his mouth soften as I licked my own lips.

  I turned to walk into the building, once again pushing away my feelings.

  Damon

  I was a wreck after I went back to my office from the roof. It took everything that I had not to go and snatch Elisa from her office and have my way with her in mine. I had the most spacious office in the building, and there were a lot of surfaces to christen, something I’d only ever wanted to do with Elisa.

  Seeing her on the street made the situation far worse.

  Her words played back through my mind as I tried to read through emails, applying them to my own life. I couldn’t risk anything either for her since dating her would be completely against the rules. I sensed that Elisa wasn’t the kind of woman to want to give it all up to be taken care of me, like some of the others I’d encountered. For some reason, Elisa was adamant about getting this herself, and I knew that she had the talent. She wouldn’t settle for less, something that turned me on more about her.

  Elisa was different.

  I left a few hours after the incident, once I realized that Brent noticed that I was on edge about something. He was one of the only people that I considered a friend and I couldn’t admit to him what was going on. I used the excuse of an appointment and ran out of the building to work out, something that seemed to keep me in control.

  I worked out for an hour, noticing a redhead across the room as she kept glancing my way. Her hair was a very artificial red, but she had a nice body, and I looked her over as she smiled my way. She made her way over to me once I was finishing up on the treadmill and met my eyes with her own hazel gaze. “Hi. I don’t typically approach men in the gym, I swear. I just couldn’t help it.”

  “It’s not a problem. I’m Damon. What is your name?” I stepped down and still towered over her by several feet.

  “Natalie. I just moved into the building a few weeks ago,” she responded as I sized her up with my eyes. She did something in business to live in this building, and I looked for a ring on her finger. I learned at an early age that a wedding ring didn’t stop a lot of people from coming after me, but her hand was bare. Natalie was around my age, and I wondered about her before I looked into her eyes.

  We made our way to the elevator, talking as she told me that she was the owner of a high-end cosmetic company here in town. I wasn’t too familiar with that kind of thing, but I knew the name enough to understand that it was successful. She invited me inside her apartment for coffee, an invitation that I accepted as I looked around her smaller unit with sharp eyes. She was single, and everything was simple but nice inside.

  We sat down at the bistro table for coffee, and I told her about my company. I saw the look that I always saw in women’s eyes when I spoke about myself. She was impressed and interested, and I selfishly decided to take advantage of that as I sipped my coffee.

  I let her kiss me first, but I took it from there. Her lips were nothing like Elisa’s, but I pushed past that and took her to her bedroom and tore her skimpy bra from her body after I’d destroyed her tank top. I knew going in that Natalie wasn’t one of my usual kind of women, but she went along with everything that I did. She was naked before I was and sucking my cock as I forced it into her mouth from above as I slipped my shorts down. We were both sweaty from the workout but the idea of her mouth cleaning me up excited me as I reached back to finger her clit as she moaned around me.

  I remembered Elisa’s mouth as I started to rock against her and closed my eyes. I slipped a finger inside of Natalie, and she bucked forward as I felt teeth on me. I pulled out and stared down at her, red-faced and breathing heavily. “Do you have a condom?” I asked her since I didn’t usually hook up with women in my own building. I didn’t carry them with me, particularly to the gym.

  She reached for the nightstand and yanked open the drawer and threw something at me. Even if I didn’t have my finger buried inside of her, I’d know that she wanted this from her eyes. I took the packet and ripped it open, sliding the latex over my generous cock before I told her to get on her knees. Natalie scrambled to do so, and I spread her legs and drove myself inside of her. She cried out, bucking against me as I took what I wanted and more, grabbing her hips as I moved again.

  Natalie’s creamy breasts were bouncing in the light of the sun as I fucked her and I reached around to cup one, finding her nipple with my fingers before I pinched down. Natalie screamed and tightened around me as I smiled and squeezed harder. She came all around my cock as I jerked inside of her and filled the condom, my thoughts filled with images of Elisa.

  I was hard even after coming, and I turned her onto her back and sucked on her small nipples as I fucked her again. She was like a doll in my arms, and I felt her release again even though she could only moan softly now. I bit down and came as she arched her back and shot her warmth over me as I came again in the new condom that I’d demanded.

  I felt my anger towards myself slip through the cracks of my need and pulled out of the woman underneath me. A quick glance told me that her world had completely changed in a different way than mine as I pushed up to go to the bathroom.

  I checked back through my memory to make sure that I hadn’t told her where I lived in the building or even where I worked. Natalie was busy trying to flirt while talking about herself and I didn’t have the time, something I was happy about at the moment. I hope she got what she wanted because it was never happening again. I could already feel my walls going up around me as I exited the bathroom and picked up my shorts. I needed a shower.

  “Damon, are you leaving?” Natalie asked as I glanced at the bed.

  “I have work to do,” The cold tone in my voice made its way through the room and I noticed her pull her blankets up around her body as she shivered. I hoped that she understood that this wouldn’t happen again. I let my need for Elisa control things for a moment, and that wouldn’t happen again.

  “Oh.” Her voice was small from the other side of the room, and I walked into the living room to gather the rest of my things before I walked out.

  There had to be a way to regain control of what was happening in my life.

  Elisa

  I worked past eight and wondered if that’s how this was going to happen. Was I slowly going to stay later and later and let it consume my life? Or was it just a way to keep Damon out of my mind? I took the offer of a ride home and went home to study for a test the following day, realizing that it was Friday and I had a date. I’d only seen Devin from a distance at work the rest of the week, but I
knew that he’d find me tomorrow.

  I let out a sigh and read through my written notes with a scowl, not having time to create a document this week. I sipped the energy drink that I used only when I needed it and glanced at Melody, who was hunched over her own books with some noise reducing headphones over her ears. I didn’t even think she ever listened to anything sometimes since she was so still.

  I focused my attention on the words in front of me and tucked the blanket further around my body. This apartment had central heating and air, but it wasn’t the greatest insulation in the world and the cold weather seeped through the walls.

  I started thinking about the date, what we were going to do. I remembered the look in Devin’s eyes at the bathroom, and I knew that he’d want more than a kiss. He was into me, more so than I was with him. Should I just give in and let him have me? Maybe it would cure the itch deep inside of my body that all of the dreams and orgasms didn’t seem to stop. It was all too easy, and I read the words again.

  I fell asleep around midnight, too tired to stay away. The light was off already, and I was using the clip on that I’d bought at the cheap corner store. I regretted not even having my computer in the late hour, and I whispered the words as questions and answered them before I gave in to sleep.

  I woke up in time for a shower before I ran off to school. I hoped that Devin would give me time to come home before we went out since I looked like every bit of the overworked college student that I was. I took my test and felt great about it as I left the classroom to attend my only other class of the day.

  The other students were noticing the change of attire since I was now dressing for the office all day. I didn’t have a lot of friends but I told them about my internship as the comments became more frequent. They were all impressed, I could tell. I wondered how many of them applied for mine or others and didn’t get them.

  I headed to the office after class to get in some time. I knew that I’d be leaving earlier tonight so I wanted to make that up, despite the fact that I was putting in more time than required. I reminded myself that there would be a time when all of this would pay off, and I’d be at peace. Devin was walking in with coffee as I got there and we talked on the way to the elevators and planned the night. He told me that he’d pick me up at my place at seven o clock after I told him that I wanted to change. I agreed. I didn’t think I had time to fit him into the chaos that was my life, but he was an appropriate man to at least try.

  I felt the afternoon fly by before I was leaving to catch a cab. I was starving, and I was relieved that the date included dinner plans as the car weaved through the constant traffic of Boston. I rushed into a full apartment and ran to my room to put on the only black dress that I had over my other clothes before I fixed my face in the tiny bathroom mirror. I slipped the heels that I’d worn to the interview and walked out into the living room as girls sat on couches and giggled. It looked like a club night to me.

  “Elisa, you look so pretty! Are you going out?” One asked as I smiled and nodded while taking water from the fridge.

  “Date,” I said simply as they looked at each other with wide eyes. I was not known for dating at all, and I knew that it came as a shock to them. I glanced at the stove clock to see that it was almost time and sipped the water slowly. How I needed out of this place! There was a knock at the thin door, and someone rushed to answer it as I opened my mouth to protest and just made my way there as I pulled on my jacket.

  I could see all of the girls looking at Devin as he asked for me before their gazes turned to me. I could see the questions in their eyes as I pushed forward to smile at him.

  “Do you live with all of them?” Devin asked as he led me from the building with a careful look around.

  “God, no. There are a lot of friends around on Friday and Saturday nights.” I felt him take my hand as he led me to a fancy car a few feet away. Devin opened the door for me, and I inhaled the scent of leather as he walked around to his side. “I prefer to get out myself. It’s too small in there with just the residents.”

  “You’re not close to them, are you?” Devin asked as he started the engine and I paused to listen. It was so quiet compared to Mom’s car.

  “It’s just a situation to save a little money,” I affirmed as he frowned in the light from the street.

  “Isn’t a dorm a better option?” Devin asked as I took a moment to answer the most common question in my life.

  “This I a cheaper option until I get a job. It’s not so bad since I’m at the office now most of the time. I just sleep and study there, and it’s decent.” I practiced the response over and over, and it sounded confident and natural to my ears now.

  “It could be in a better area,” Devin grumbled as I smiled at him.

  “That’s why I’m glad my roomies are sleeping with some of the guys from school that live there,” I said as he laughed.

  “But not you?” Devin asked as I shook my head.

  “No, not me.” I told him as I looked forward to seeing where we were going. I was pleased when he pulled up to one of the best restaurants in the city and got me out before he handed the keys to a young man standing on the curb.

  We went inside to find a crowd and Devin led me right to the hostess stand to tell her his name. We were led to a table in the corner where Devin checked to see if I liked wine, ordering it when I nodded.

  I learned more about him over the meal, as Devin confirmed that he came from money and had a comfortable ride at school. He was the opposite of me. Once he asked me about myself, and I opened up about Mom and what our lives entailed, I saw the sympathy cross his face. I hated that, but he reached across the table and took my hand. “I’m sorry, Elisa. I can see why you’ve come so far.”

  “Have I?” I asked as I stared at him.

  “Yes, you have. You’re in one of the best schools in the country, and you got the coveted internship, Elisa. You’re at the top, and you won’t live in that apartment forever,” Devin explained as I frowned and looked into his eyes. “You have me on your side now, as well.”

  “Okay,” I said shyly as I released my hand to take a bite of the salmon with a smile.

  We ended the meal a couple hours after arrival, and he took my hand, and we walked down the street past some shops as I looked in and laughed at his jokes. This was fun even if it wasn’t the heat that Damon made me feel. I could work with this.

  He turned at the corner, and I found myself surrounded by apartment buildings as I looked at him. “Where are we?” I asked as he ran his free hand through his hair and smiled at me.

  “That’s my building,” Devin nodded towards a brownstone and I looked ahead to see a building on the corner. He wanted me to go there, meaning he wanted to kiss me again. Devin might want to do more. I licked my lips and let him lead the way as I tried to figure out if this was what I wanted. He was a good guy that treated me well, at least so far. Devin was trying to get who I was, despite our differences. He deserved a chance.

  We were walking up the steps when we heard a car stop and someone clearing their throat. I looked first to see Damon watching us from his vehicle as Devin frowned. “I hope you’re treating my intern with respect,” Damon told him from the window as I could see Devin try to place him.

  “Your intern? Yeah, of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Devin waited for Damon to reply but the window rolled up, and the car drove away. “What the hell was that?” Devin asked as he looked at me.

  “No idea. He must recognize us from the office,” I replied casually even though every nerve ending in my body was alert and awake. “Didn’t we interview with him?”

  “Yeah, he did look familiar. That’s so weird,” Devin said as he looked at me. “Let’s go, Elisa.”

  I followed him up the stairs, letting my head turn to look over the street for Damon’s car. What was he doing here?

  Damon

  I swore off women that were too close to my personal life. I’d already seen Natalie a few times
in the building and researched gyms in the city to avoid her. I just didn’t feel like being an asshole to her every time I saw her. She didn’t do anything wrong, but I could see the look in her eyes that told me she thought that she did. This is why I kept it to the club, to those rooms that I never saw any of them outside of. I’d degrade them and fuck them sometimes, never having to make small talk or buy them a drink.

  Every time that I saw Elisa in the building, I felt weak. I wanted to break all of my rules for her, even though I knew that it was wrong. I didn’t speak to her when we’d pass in the lobby, but I felt her looking at me. I saw her with the other intern, and it made my jealousy rise as they’d leave together. She’d smile and laugh, but there wasn’t the intensity in her eyes that I saw when she looked at me. I wanted to kill him when I saw them walking into a brownstone together one evening, his hand on her back as he helped her up the steps.

  I focused on a new gym. I would not stop working out because I needed to release everything inside of me and keep myself in top form. I needed to have the control, especially when I was losing it with each sighting of Elisa.

  I researched her as well. She was a top student at her school, and she lived in a part of town that was not safe for her, in my opinion. I realized that they were student apartments once I dug deeper and assumed that she had a few roommates, but what were a group of girls going to do against someone that wanted into their lives? I wouldn’t entertain the idea of a man living with her since I considered her mine somewhere in my dark mind.

  I went to the club a few times over the next week when I had time after work. I watched as girls sucked me off, let me smack their asses with whatever device I wished and fucked me in any position that I wanted. It felt good to walk away afterward and just go home, but it didn’t get my intern off of my mind. I think it made it worse in some ways.