I placed my forehead to hers and thrust forward. We both cried out. I put my face in the crook of her neck and stayed motionless except for my breathing. She tried to thrust her hips, but I held her down. “I need a minute.”
She chuckled and ran her fingers down my back. “I hope it isn’t longer than a minute because I really need you now.” She placed her lips to my ear and whispered. “You feel incredible.”
I looked at her and smiled. I propped myself up on my elbows and started thrusting my hips. I looked up, throwing my head back. “You’re so tight.”
She smiled and rocked her hips with mine. She reached up and pulled my head down to kiss me. I couldn’t get enough of her. I couldn’t get in deep enough. She wrapped her legs around me and dug her heels into my back. It made me go faster.
I started kissing her neck as she arched her back. I kissed lower until I reached her breast. I put her nipple between my teeth and pulled. She clawed at my back as I started sucking.
“Faster, Carl. I need it faster.”
I pumped as fast as I could, even though I felt the need to explode at any moment. I wanted to make sure she was satisfied first. I took her other breast in my mouth and sucked hard, biting occasionally.
I put my face in the crook of her neck. I wasn’t sure how much longer I was going to hold out. “You’re so fucking hot.”
She gripped the sheets and arched her whole upper body. “Ahh!” She screamed, “Fuck, fuck. Carl! Don’t stop!”
I got up on my knees and pulled her hips on my lap. I held her hips and pumped harder, faster. As my orgasm threatened to explode, I threw my head back and closed my eyes. I moved my hand between her legs and pressed my thumb to her. Once I started the circles, her legs started shaking. I knew she was close.
Just a couple of more thrusts and she was screaming my name, trying to grab anything she could to hang on to. The second she went limp, I allowed myself to let go. I grabbed her hips again and continued to thrust just a few more times. It’s all I needed. I collapsed next to her.
It was a little while before either of us could talk. We lay there listening to each other breathing. She had linked her fingers with mine as soon as I collapsed.
“That was . . .”
“Incredible.” I ended her sentence for her.
“Intense.” She turned her head toward me. “We’re fucked now.”
I smiled. “Yes, quite well, I might add.”
She shook her head and sat up. “No, that isn’t what I meant.” She started picking up her clothes.
“Rach, what’s wrong?”
She stopped with her back to me. Her shoulders started shaking as if she were crying. I reached out to her and she went to the bathroom. I hung my head and sighed.
I shut the door and leaned on it, trying to stop the tears. It was the most intense sex I’d ever had, but on top of that, the connection I felt to Carl scared me.
There were meetings I would be late for if I didn’t hurry, but I wanted nothing more than to stay in that bathroom forever. I looked at the window, but it was too high up to sneak out. When I had cleaned up; it was time to face the music.
Carl was standing there as soon as I had opened the door. I took a step back, but he grabbed me and pulled me to him, kissing me when he had me.
He placed his forehead to mine. “I’m scared, too. Please, just give this a chance.”
I rubbed his chest and nodded. “I have to go to work. I’m going to be late for my meetings.”
“I know it isn’t much, but Amy’s gone for a few days. We can see what happens without involving her.”
I nodded again, but backed away. “I really have to go.”
He hung onto my hand. “Come back tonight or I’ll come to you.”
I smiled, nodded, and went to get my makeup kit.
“I didn’t think you were going to make it.” Jimmy caught up to me just before I entered the conference room.
“I know. I’m cutting it close, but I’m here.”
I walked in before he could ask me any questions. Lance locked his eyes on me the second I walked in, but I refused to look at him. I didn’t know what the meeting was going to be about, and I didn’t really care.
I took my seat and opened the notepad I would use to pretend to take notes, still keeping my eyes away from the front of the room where he was. My mind kept drifting back to Carl and the morning we had.
“What’s that smile about?” Cagney sat down next to me.
I shrugged and smiled more, even though I tried to fight it.
“Oh, we are definitely talking after this, girlfriend.” We both stopped smiling when Juliet walked in. Cagney looked at me. “Are you okay?”
I shrugged again, but had no trouble stopping the smile that time. “I don’t care about her.”
The woman, who had taken my role and taken my life, as I knew it, walked up to Lance and whispered something. He nodded and addressed the group as she sat in the chair facing the rest of us.
“If we could settle down and get started, please. It’s been a while since we’ve had a meeting and we need to touch base more.” He looked around the room. “Since I’ve been out, it’s been a little more lax here. I’m back now, and I’m taking the reign again. There will no longer be any working from home. There will no longer be any personal use for the print shop. If you need prints of your child’s birthday party, take them to a one hour photo or pay for them here.”
He paced the front of the room. “The economy has hit everyone and we are no exception to that. People are recycling prints from previous photo shoots and no longer requesting jobs. It’s time to button down and work smarter.”
Jimmy started passing out papers to everyone while Lance continued. “As you receive the new set of rules, look them over and ask questions about anything you may not understand.” He stopped pacing and looked at everyone. “I will not tolerate any bending of the rules. You get one opportunity to understand them. Saying later you didn’t understand will not be accepted.”
Jimmy handed a paper to Cagney, but skipped me with a slight shake of his head. I looked down. I knew it meant I would get my own list later. Once Lance was sure everyone had a chance to read the rules and accept them, he dismissed the meeting.
“We can’t have our cell phones on at work?” Cagney looked at me as we walked back to my office. “How is that saving him money?”
Lance was behind us. “It’s to ensure you’re working and not on your dating apps.”
Cagney didn’t bother turning around, but still responded. “I accept that.” He hurried to his office before he got into more trouble.
I walked into my office and didn’t bother shutting the door. I knew it wouldn’t keep Lance out anyway. “What do you want Hathaway? Are you here to give me my super-secret list?” I sat down and started to log on to the system.
“You don’t have one.”
I looked up. “You’re firing me?”
“No. Your list doesn’t change.” He took the seat across from my desk. “You do have a new job, however.”
I shook my head. “And what would that be, your laundry?”
“You’re going to teach Juliet.”
My head snapped up. “Teach her what?”
“How to take photos.”
“Oh, hell no!” I stood. “You are one crazy mother fucker if you think I’m going to teach that little bitch anything.”
“Who are you fucking?”
“That’s none of your business.” I sat back down and turned to the computer.
“I sure hope it isn’t a client, Rachael. Even a former client is off limits, but you know that.” He stood. “She’ll be here first thing in the morning. Don’t be a bitch.”
It was a long day and I just wanted my tub. It was going to have to wait as I saw Deb propped up against my door when I stepped off the elevator.
“What’s up, Deb?”
“I can’t be home anymore and Amy’s still with her friend.” She followed me in
and plopped on the sofa.
“Why don’t you get your own place?”
“I’m not allowed yet.”
I looked at her. “Last I checked you were well over 18.”
“Well over? Thanks, Sis.”
“Shut up. You know what I meant.” I headed for the kitchen. It sounded like drinks were in order.
“So what’s wrong with you?” She followed me and grabbed the glasses as I grabbed the wine.
“It was just a long day.”
“You can talk about it. I’ll listen.”
I waved her off. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
She hesitated, but spoke anyway. “I thought we were trying to develop a relationship. I thought we were going to try to be sisters.”
“We are. I thought we’d been doing pretty well.”
“Then why won’t you talk to me?”
I shrugged. “There’s really nothing to say. It’s just been a long day.”
“Okay. May I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Since when have you been into auto-erotic asphyxiation?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Into what?”
“You know, where they choke you to intensify your orgasm.” She pointed to my neck. “You have an old bruise and hickeys.”
My hand touched my neck. I’d taken the scarf off in the car because it was blazing hot. I shook my head. “I’m not.”
“Well, it looks like it. So what happened?”
I took a big drink of my wine before refilling it and walking to the living room with the bottle. “I pissed someone off and turned someone else on.”
“Busy day.”
“Not in the same day.”
“I’m still waiting to hear what happened.”
“There isn’t much to tell. I didn’t see it coming and couldn’t get out of his grip.”
“Which one?”
“Either . . . both. Hathaway has—”
“You slept with Lance again?”
I shook my head.
“He’s the one who choked you?” The dumbfounded look on her face confirmed my belief it really wasn’t like him. He was an asshole, but he was never violent.
“I have no idea what’s gotten into him lately.”
“Is he the one who hurt you before?” She motioned to my ribs.
“No.”
“Well, maybe you’re hanging out with the wrong crowd. Who did you sleep with?”
I took another big drink and looked away.
She sat up straight. “You finally fucked Carl.” She started laughing. “This is awesome.”
I looked at her. “Why is this awesome?”
“You two have been making eyes at each other and honestly, I was getting tired of it. Every time you were together I wanted to tell you to go upstairs, and I would watch Amy. The tension between the two of you made me horny.”
I closed my eyes and put my hand up. “Okay, I get it.”
She leaned forward and put her glass on the coffee table. “So? How was it?”
I couldn’t stop the smile that spread across my face, but I tried to play it off. I shrugged. “It was okay.”
“I knew it. Guys like him are either over the top or a complete dud.” She picked her wine back up. “Lucky bitch.”
I started laughing. It was nice to actually sit and talk to Deb. We didn’t have conversations growing up. I felt as if I’d never really known her. She was direct and to the point most of the time, which could put people off; but she was also funny, and it was obvious she cared.
I wanted to tell her more about the situation. I wanted to confide in my sister, but I held back. Trusting her was going to take time. I didn’t trust anyone easily anymore.
There was a knock at the door and I stiffened. She patted my knee as she stood. “I’ll get it.”
She looked through the peephole and smiled. Her head turned to me as she opened the door and waved the person in. It was Carl.
“Oh, hello, Deb. I’m sorry for the intrusion.” He looked at me and smiled.
“I was just leaving.” She walked over to grab her purse and whispered, “Lucky bitch even gets house calls.” She smiled and turned to leave. “See you next week, Carl.”
He waited for the door to shut. “I thought you were coming over.”
“I just got home and Deb was at my door. I didn’t have time to do anything else.”
He nodded and then stood there looking around. I never would’ve pegged Carl as the nervous type, but he did seem nervous.
“How did you get in?”
“You have very friendly neighbors.” He looked around again.
“Is something on your mind?”
He looked at me. “No.” He looked at the wine. “Have you eaten yet?”
I shook my head.
He narrowed his eyes. “You really shouldn’t drink on an empty stomach.”
“Don’t boss me.” I reached forward and grabbed my wine glass. I drained it before he made it over to me.
“Why must you defy me every chance you get? Is this what our relationship is going to be like? You challenging everything I say?”
“I wasn’t aware this was a relationship. I thought we just liked to fuck.”
He sighed and sat down next to me. “Why must you push my buttons?”
I straddled his lap and kissed him. He didn’t fight it. I backed away and started loosening his tie. “You know you came here to fuck me.”
“There’s no need to be vulgar about it.”
“Trust me. There’s nothing sweet about what I’m going to do to you.”
I slid to the edge of his lap and unbuckled his belt. He watched me as I got on my knees between his legs and pulled him out of his slacks. I pumped him a few times, as I looked into his eyes. The desire I saw in them sent shivers down my spine. I leaned forward and licked the tip, still pumping my hand.
I wrapped my lips around him and started the slow, torturous game of teasing. He put his hands in my hair to make me go faster, but I held off and continued to drag my lips up slowly.
“You’re trying to kill me.”
I smiled and went a fraction faster.
“Rach, please.”
I loved hearing him beg. It gave me a thrill to know he needed me and was begging me to continue. I sat up a little more on my knees and went faster. He moaned and grabbed the seat cushions on the sofa.
I stood on my knees a little higher to be directly over him and placed one hand behind him on the sofa. Each time I went down, I allowed him to hit the back of my throat to give him more sensation. He seemed to like it.
“Oh, God. Your hot mouth is going to make me explode soon.”
I slightly grazed him with my teeth, just to add a different texture, but not to hurt him.
“Fuck, Rachael!” His thighs tensed and his hands went to my head. I allowed him to set the speed he needed, but I would take back over soon enough. I wanted to do more things to him before he went over the edge. “I need to fuck you.”
I shook my head and went down to the base, holding him in my throat. It wasn’t something I did often, but I wanted to do it for him. I came up for air and continued with the shorter passes until I knew he was ready.
“If you don’t want a mouthful, you need to back up now.”
I went down to the base again and milked him with my throat. He was moaning and calling my name as his orgasm took over. I swallowed everything he had and pumped a few more times to make sure he was finished. Then, I casually placed him back in his slacks and fastened him up while he was sprawled out on the sofa, trying to catch his breath.
I stood and picked up Deb’s wine glass to drain the contents. “I’m going to go find something for dinner. I need you to keep your strength up. It’s going to be a very long night for you.” I smiled as he just mumbled, still in his orgasmic haze.
The caffeine from the coffee wasn’t helping. I wasn’t sure anything could help other than an eight-hour nap. Carl and I stayed up almost a
ll night making up for lost time. I squeezed my thighs together just thinking about the night I spent with him. I closed my eyes as I remembered what his tongue felt like all over my body.
“I’m sorry. Am I interrupting your nap?”
The door slammed and my eyes flew open. She was standing there, looking smug. I hated her and now I was going to have to teach her how to take photos—my photos—the photos I should’ve been taking.
I stood and motioned to the desk with my camera laid out. “I thought we could start with basics today and go over the tools you’ll be using.”
She scoffed. “I don’t need your lessons.”
I grabbed my camera bag and started packing up. It was taking everything I had not to respond to that. She sat in the chair across from me and watched as I put my equipment away.
“We’re getting married.”
“Good for you.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
I looked at her. “Should it?”
“You’re still in love with him.”
“Not even a little.” I scoffed. “If it weren’t for hatred, I’d have no emotion for him.”
“Then why don’t you leave?” It was an honest question—quiet and full of truth for why she was really in my office.
I shook my head and started packing the equipment again. “That’s something you’re going to have to ask him.”
“He said you’re still in love with him.”
“Of course he would say that.” I placed the bag on the floor and sat in my chair. “I have moved on personally. I only wish I could move on professionally. Anything else is going to have to come from him.”
She sat there for a moment. “I don’t hate you for being in denial.”
“And I don’t hate you for being an idiot.”
She looked at me. “That isn’t very nice.”
“You’re right. If I were in your place, I’d probably think I was in denial, too. I’m sorry. I have moved on, though. I no longer have any romantic feelings for Lance and I wish you two the best.”
I couldn’t believe I had just said that to her and more surprising, I couldn’t believe I had meant it. She nodded and stood to leave. “Watch the shadows.” She turned and gave me a puzzled expression. “When you take photos, make sure there are no shadows on the models. You’re killing shots by allowing it to happen.” She looked thoughtful for a moment and nodded again before she left.
Striving for Perfection (Striving Series Book 2) Page 20
