Shade

by Shayne Ford

  He crashes next to me, his back sinking into the pillow.

  Stretching an arm, he motions to me to come closer. A moment later, his arm closes around me, his lips pressing against my temple as I cuddle against his chest.

  “I need to catch some sleep. I’ll fly to Hamburg in the morning,” he says softly, his eyes closed.

  “That’s okay,” I mutter.

  His breath steadies, and his fingers start to twitch, dancing on my shoulder, softly tapping my skin as he drifts off to sleep.

  Just when I think he fell asleep, he purrs in my ear.

  “I’m happy that you are here with me, Tara.”

  My heart thuds, startled in my chest.

  “Me too, Shade.”

  He rolls to his side to face me and drapes his arm around my body as I glue to his chest. His heart slows down, his fingers no longer dancing, his grip slackening on me. Soft breaths tickle my temple as he finally falls asleep.

  Tenderly, I kiss his lips.

  The bright morning light dances on my face, sliding over my eyelids as a soft wind blows in my hair.

  Brushing the sheets to the side with my hand, I crack my eyes open and glance out the window.

  The panoramic view of the Alps and Zurich fills my sight.

  Slowly, I push up on to my elbows and listen. A sound of running water comes from the shower. He’s still here.

  I roll off the bed, slip into his dress shirt, and stroll into the second bathroom.

  Minutes later, I walk back into the living room.

  Wide open, the French doors lead to a large terrace where a breakfast table is set for two.

  The sound of his steps makes me spin around.

  Sporting a dark gray suit, and a crisp silver dress shirt, he swaggers to me, flashing a spellbinding smile.

  A scent of sophisticated cologne lifts off his skin. A smile curves his lips as he takes in my expression.

  “Are you leaving?” I ask, grinning softly.

  “Mmm-hmm,” he says, dragging his gaze down on me as he slips his hands inside my shirt.

  He flicks a couple of buttons open, and cups my breasts, squeezing them gently.

  “You slept well?” he murmurs, a hand drifting to my butt, slowly kneading it.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  Rolling my lip under the edge of my teeth, I start undoing his buttons as well.

  My palms slide across the taut skin of his chest as I shower his sculpted pecs with kisses. His nipples pucker, goosebumps forming on his skin.

  “Baby?”

  His hoarse low voice rolls in my ears. Silently, I run my hands inside his jacket and peel it off his shoulders.

  “Yes?”

  “I have to go...” he says, grinning, yet he doesn’t make the slightest effort to stop me.

  “I know... but before you go,” I murmur.

  “Yes?”

  Amusement flashes in his voice.

  He looks down at me and runs his thumbs over my nipples as my fingers trace his belt, smoothly unbuckling it. His thick erection meets my palm before my fingers wrap around it.

  Heavy, his eyelids slide over his eyes, his lips parting in a tease.

  “Baby...?”

  His voice is soft and quiet. He has no intention of stopping me, I see.

  “Tell me... what you want...” he murmurs.

  He tilts his head back slightly, observing me with hooded eyes as I smoothly run my fist up and down his hard length.

  “Tell me...” he mutters.

  Pushing up on my toes, I bring my mouth close to his lips.

  “Say it...” he rasps.

  “I want to taste you… I want to suck your cock,” I murmur against his lips, his hard cock stirring in my hand.

  He laughs softly.

  “Then fucking do it,” he demands, peeling the shirt off me.

  SHADE

  She tears away from me, her eyes the color of the rainy sky now drifting down my body.

  Propped on her knees, she brings her hand to my pants, frees my cock and licks my balls, her hand sliding up my length.

  Threading my fingers through her hair, I tilt her head back, summoning her eyes to me.

  Her lips part, and slide down my hard flesh as I thrust my cock into her mouth. She pulls me out and licks my balls again.

  “Don’t be a fucking tease...” I mutter.

  In response, her lips curve into a naughty smile.

  She slides her tongue onto my length, the slow motion making my cock harden even more.

  Lip crushed beneath my teeth, I have my eyes rooted to her. Her skin turns scarlet from a blush.

  She bobs her head while I clench my ass trying to keep my body under control.

  “I love it,” I murmur.

  Rolling my hips against her mouth, I have my thumb pressed on her cheek as I seize her eyes with a drunken stare.

  She almost breaks her rhythm.

  “Don’t stop...” I say.

  She picks up the pace while I keep my eyes trained on my glistening cock as it slides in and out of her mouth.

  Her cheeks turn hollow, her tangled hair framing her face.

  The harder she sucks and swirls her tongue, the louder she moans. Curving her back, she pushes her bottom out, the sight making my balls draw tight. I’m ready to blast my load.

  Her hips start rolling.

  “Come to me, baby...” She shifts her position and brings her backside closer to me.

  Smoothly, I drive my fingers into her. She moans, her center throbbing around my touch as she rocks her hips against my hand.

  “Fuck...” I grunt, grabbing her hair as I fuck her mouth harder.

  She clenches around my fingers, her crying moan rippling through the air.

  Soon, she starts to shake, and I burst inside her mouth.

  I pull my fingers out and my cock out of her mouth. Grunting, I pump my shaft and shoot my cum against her parted lips.

  Panting, she stares at me, lost for a few moments.

  I pull her up to me. She still trembles.

  “You know what, baby girl... One day, I’m gonna make you mine. Never forget that,” I say against her lips as she looks at me with glistening eyes.

  She smiles softly, running a shaky hand through her hair and then on my abs.

  “I think you need a different suit,” she murmurs, her eyes going down on me.

  “Yeah. I think I do,” I say as I start to pivot, heading to the closet.

  Rushed, I change my pants a moment later.

  “You know I have to go home, today.”

  Her voice travels from the living room.

  “You don’t go anywhere,” I say, exiting the walk-in closet and fixing my pants.

  Her eyebrows lift, a questioning look sliding on her face.

  “I don’t?”

  “Do you have a cat? A dog? Anyone waiting for you?”

  She smiles.

  “No.”

  “Then, don’t worry about getting home.”

  “What about my job?”

  “You’ve been reassigned,” I say, a smirk tickling my lips. “There’s money for you over there,” I say, pointing to the table.”And my driver is waiting for you downstairs. Do some shopping today. Buy some new clothes. Something other than suits. “

  “What? Why? I have money. Why do I need clothes?”

  “You’re flying to Italy. You have no use for suits over there. And please don’t use your money.”

  “I... um.... Why? Where exactly in Italy?”

  “We’re gonna spend some time on the Amalfi coast. You’ll see.”

  “Where are you going now?” she asks as she straightens her back, her hair tousled.

  “I’m flying to Hamburg this morning. I have several meetings lined up, so I don’t know how long it’s going to take. In the meantime, my driver will take you to the airport in the afternoon, and you’ll fly my private jet to Italy tonight.”

  I pull my jacket on and stride to her. My fingers splay on her cheek as I
search her eyes.

  Her lips begin to curve into a slow smile.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  “Was I that good?” she asks half-jokingly.

  I let out a chuckle.

  “You were pretty darn good.”

  I lean and kiss her, and she looks at me frozen.

  “It was the best I’ve had in a long time,” I say seriously.

  Her eyes follow me as I tear away.

  “You okay?” I ask, grabbing my cigarettes and my phone.

  “Uh-huh.”

  At the door, I turn and motion to the breakfast table.

  “Eat something. There’s a butler if you need him.”

  “I was just about to ask... Where the hell is the damn butler?”

  Grinning, she rolls her eyes while I slip out the door, laughing.

  12

  TARA

  Lake Zurich stretches in the distance while the snow-capped Alps rise peaks toward the sun.

  The weather is warm and breezy, but not too hot. It’s a perfect summer day. I spend most of my morning reading and enjoying the view.

  Eyes trained on my phone screen, I sip coffee and munch on a croissant, absently scrolling through the numbers.

  There’s not one person to call. Not unless I’m willing to lie to them. No one knows where I am or who I’m with. Not even Maya.

  I stop flipping through the numbers, toss the phone to the side, and root my gaze to the view.

  As I chew on the last piece of pastry, a soft buzz travels through the air, coming from the table.

  I flip the phone.

  Message after message pops on the screen.

  Maya: Call me as soon as you get this.

  Then Josh.

  ‘I need to talk to you.’

  Then... mom?

  ‘Josh told me everything. Call me.’

  Oh shit.

  A small flake of pastry dangles from the corner of my mouth as I stare at my phone, frozen–– their words sinking in.

  Mom?? He called mom? Is this for real? How dare he do that to me?

  My brain connects the dots in a mere second. This must be way more than telling her about the breakup. How else could he have gotten my mother in the middle of everything?

  I run a napkin over my lips as I struggle to push down the throat the last bit of food.

  I go over the messages again and call Maya first.

  She answers immediately.

  “Where are you?”

  “Switzerland. Why?” I ask, angst flashing through my voice.

  “Listen... Some shit went down. Josh talked to your mom, and now they keep calling me and questioning me about you and your job and whatever else is going on in your life right now. Anyway, it turns out that they know way more than I do.”

  “They know what?”

  “That you are on a fucking European trip with some hotshot heir.”

  Adrenaline soars through my veins.

  “How would they know that?”

  “Well... Josh knows.”

  “How the hell does he know?”

  “Someone told him,” she says, sounding disappointed. “And by the way, the man is a total ass. I’m glad you’re no longer with him. ”

  My hands start shaking, fury clawing at my throat.

  “Who told him?”

  “Someone from his work...”

  “Work??”

  “Apparently the person is married to someone from your workplace... A Mrs. Long or something...”

  “Claire. That’s my fucking boss,” I murmur, my voice flooded with disbelief. “Oh my God. Are you fucking serious?”

  “Yup. That man gave Josh the information along with his opinion, which is probably his wife’s, but anyway... The thing is, Josh has his balls tied in a knot.”

  “What does he want?”

  “I have no fucking idea, but he didn’t mince words, and short of calling you a slut, he called you every other name in the book.”

  I slouch back against the chair, silent. A few moments pass by.

  “Are you still there?”

  “Yes, I am,” I mutter.

  “Is this about the man from the terrace?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, my God. Are you serious?” she asks cheerful with a voice I haven’t heard since high-school. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “Because I didn’t know if there’s anything to it. I still don’t,” I say, my voice shot, but that doesn’t stop her from giggling.

  “I’m so happy for you. Is he good to you?”

  “Yes. He’s really good to me,” I say, smiling to myself.

  “Why is it such a problem then? And what’s the thing with that boss of yours? Why is it her damn business?”

  “For one, it’s about the company,” I murmur. “But it’s more than that...”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s not only my boss who’s keeping track of my business... It’s his mother.”

  “Oh, shit.”

  Her voice loses intensity.

  “That’s not good,” she mutters.

  “No, it’s not. She had her eyes set on me right from the beginning. Claire is one of her minions and her snitch.”

  “Oh... fuck.”

  “They’ve planned to fire me, but something has derailed their plans. Not for long, I’m afraid.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No... It’s fine. I’ve made peace with it. ”

  “So, what do they want?”

  I smile ruefully.

  “They want to pull me out of his life.”

  “Why?”

  “Because he fears that it means something to him, and I doubt she likes that.”

  “You think she doesn’t like you?”

  “She probably doesn’t, but that’s beyond the point. I suspect she doesn’t like any woman she can’t control. And with that kind of money at stake, I’m sure she doesn’t like to lose control over her son either.”

  “Oh... I’m sorry,” she murmurs.

  “Don’t be,” I say before I pause for a few moments. “You know... If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. I didn’t have high hopes anyway. So, I guess, that’s that. I need to go now. I have to call Josh and mom. ”

  I hang up, place the phone on the table and wait a few seconds, my heart pounding in my throat.

  I take a few long breaths as I focus on the view, hoping to calm down.

  A few birds fill the air with their melodious sounds nearby, while the tree leaves sway slowly in the wind.

  I finally suck in a short breath and call him.

  “Hi, Josh.”

  “What is wrong with you?” he barks.

  “What are you talking about?” I mumble, thrown off by the anger streaming through his voice.

  “What am I talking about?? I’m talking about your little European leisure trip with the silver spoon fed kid you work for,” he snaps.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Is that what you are right now? The on-call escort for some rich kid who needs some form of entertainment on his trips. Is that it? Is this who you were focused on when you said you were working hard to further your career? How long has he been fucking you, Tara? Huh? Oh... I bet you had a grand old time, fucking him behind my back.”

  I clench my jaw.

  “What I do is nobody’s business,” I say, trying to stay calm.

  A sardonic laugh echoes in my ear.

  “Oh, oh... Excuse me. It’s already everybody’s business. And why wouldn’t it be? He’s fucking you on the company’s dime.”

  “It’s his fucking company,” I bark, frustrated.

  “So you admit he’s fucking you.”

  “Listen, Josh… I’m on a business trip. I came here for work. I don’t know where you get your information from, and I still don’t see why my life is your business. We’re no longer together. Remember? Don’t you have something better to do? For instance, a woman to fuck?”

  “This is not about me,
Tara.”

  “Oh, yes. It damn well is. Should I remind you about your wandering dick?”

  “At least I didn’t fuck someone who was still in high school two years ago. For God’s sake, Tara.”

  “As I said before, it’s none of your damn business what I do and don’t do.”

  “Oh, of course. So convenient. Well, everybody knows anyway what you’ve been doing secretly,” he scoffs.

  “It was not a secret.”

  “Then, how come your mom didn’t know? And Maya didn’t have a clue either?”

  I pull the phone away from my ear, seriously entertaining the idea of throwing it over the handrail if at all possible when a car passes by so it gets crushed under the tires.

  With a strained voice, I speak again.

  “Well... Seemingly, there are enough people who know. Isn’t that how you found out? Who told you, Josh?”

  A few moments of silence slip by.

  “Tell me, Josh.”

  “Claire’s husband told me. He actually felt bad for me. He thought you left me for this... fucking kid.”

  “Did you tell him that we were no longer together because you decided to ditch me for some skirt?”

  “She’s not a skirt, Tara,” he says, angry and defensive.

  My eyebrows shoot up in disbelief.

  Oh, my… It’s not only that he fucked someone on the side. He actually fell for her as well.

  “Really? Who is she? If you care to share.”

  “She’s someone from work. A woman who knows what she wants. She’s about my age.”

  “By knowing what she wants you mean… She wants you.”

  “Not that it’s your business, but yes. That’s what it means. I don’t like surprises, Tara. I’m past that point. At least, she’s not going to fuck her boss one day like you did. I have no patience for that kind of nonsense. I don’t have time for it.”

  “And yet, you have time to call my mom and Maya and mess with my life.”

  “It’s not only about your life. What you did reflects negatively on me.”

  My airways shut closed.

  Oh, my God.

  Is he really saying that?

  “I bet you didn’t think about that when you spread your legs for him. You didn’t care that your stupid affair puts me in a bad light.”

  I stay quiet for a few moments, trying o make sense of this.

  Finally, I begin to speak.

  “You know… Josh. Once in a while, you should pull your head out of your ass and look around you. Not everything revolves around you. And nobody owes you anything. Of all people, me the least. I’m sorry that I left you with the impression that my whole purpose in life was to make you feel right and good and safe. It was a mistake on my part, and it was not intentional. You never gave a damn about anyone else, Josh. You always made sure people submitted to your needs, whims, and wishes. You were the one who cheated on me and then moved on and blamed it on me. And now you dare to stick your fucking nose in my fucking business?”