Striving for Perfection (Striving Series Book 2)

by Mooney, B. L.

  I hadn’t quite made it to the cafeteria when Rachael and Deb were walking toward me coming from there. Rachael saw me first and stopped in her tracks. Then she took off, running straight toward me. I held my arms open as she jumped in them.

  She wrapped her legs around me and cried on my shoulder, “I didn’t think you’d come.”

  “You needed me. I couldn’t be kept away.”

  Deb finally reached us and smiled at me. “It’s nice of you to join us.”

  Rachael slid down once she heard Deb’s voice, but clung to my waist. I kept my arm around her. “What do we know?”

  “He’s had a heart attack, but they won’t know how severe for a while yet.”

  I nodded and walked with them to the elevator. Dennis stood when he saw me coming around the corner with Rachael. Drew smiled and pulled on Dennis’s arm to get him to sit. She whispered something to him when he finally sat down.

  Another guy stood, but moved over so Rachael and I could sit together on the bench seat. “You must be Carl.” He extended his hand and I took it. “I’m Rachael’s older brother, Rick. I’ll kick your ass if you hurt her.”

  “Fair enough.” Rachael and I sat and waited with the rest of them. It was a long night, but one I was glad I didn’t miss.

  I walked to get Rachael a refill, but used the excuse to stretch my legs. It wasn’t long before Dennis was by my side. “Something on your mind?”

  “Just getting something for Drew. You remember her, don’t you? She’s the girl you tortured last year.”

  “Tonight is not the night to discuss this.”

  “You shouldn’t be here.” He grabbed my arm and spun me toward him.

  “Stop, Dennis. I have no interest in even talking to Drew. I’m here for Rachael.”

  He got in my face. “I don’t trust you.”

  “I’m not asking you to. The only person I’m interested in earning trust from is Rachael. I couldn’t care less what you think of me.” I walked away from him.

  “You should just leave while you still can walk away.” He shouted when I didn’t respond. “I’ve kicked your ass once. I will do it again!”

  I turned and walked back to him, clenching my fists. “Tonight is not the night to test that theory, but I’d put money on it you are wrong. You were in love with Drew and I wasn’t. The tables have turned. I’m the one with something to lose this time.” I got in his face. “And I will kick your ass to keep it.”

  He didn’t follow me after that, but I did feel his eyes on my back the entire walk of the hallway.

  The next few days were intense and stressful. I was at the hospital to support Rachael while her father went through more tests and procedures. It wasn’t as bad as everyone had feared, but with a couple of stents now holding his arteries open, it would be a while before he was fully recovered.

  I had a lot of work to make up, but my baby girl was coming home later in the evening. I had asked the family she was with to keep her a few extra days as Deb needed to be at the hospital with her family and Rachael wanted me there with her.

  It was a proud moment for me when Rachael leaned on me. It wasn’t something I’d ever thought she’d do. Now that she’d done it, it scared the shit out of me. I leaned forward on the desk and put my head in my hands.

  “Troubles?” Damon walked in and went over to the mirror to adjust his hair.

  “No, no troubles. I’m just a little tired.” I sat up and looked at the monitor. “Did we have a meeting?”

  “No. I cleared your calendar this week. You have paperwork you need to catch up on.” He walked over and took the chair across from me. “I’ve been doing some more digging into that cop who roughed up Rachael.”

  That got my attention. “And?”

  “Remember I told you that he had a kid?”

  I motioned with my hand for him to continue. “Of course. What have you found out?”

  “She’s a model.”

  “I really don’t have time for the games, Damon.”

  “She just signed on with the company Rachael works for.”

  “Are you saying he roughed her up to get a contract for his kid?”

  He shrugged. “I’m saying it’s a little coincidental his daughter has auditioned for modeling gigs for years and just now gets one . . . with that company.”

  I sat back in the chair. “I’m not sure who would have the ability to sign her up.”

  “Lance Hathaway signed her up himself.”

  “I was afraid of that.”

  “He’s also the one who choked her.”

  I nodded. “I was afraid of that, too.” I took a deep breath. “I know he has something on her. She won’t leave his company, but she’s dying there.”

  “That is what I couldn’t get out of my source.” He stood to leave. “The only other thing they would say is Rachael shouldn’t be alone with him, but I think we all can agree to that.”

  “Thank you, Damon. I’ll see what I can get out of Rachael.”

  “Good luck with that, boss.”

  I didn’t wear dresses often. The constant checking to make sure nothing was showing I didn’t want shown was too much for me. I preferred to feel confident in my clothing. While I was confident of my body, I didn’t want it on display for the world at the most inopportune time.

  I wore a dress for Carl, though. He had been great with me the last few days, and I didn’t think I could’ve gotten through them without him. I reached for the elevator button, but stopped on that thought. I would’ve made it through without him, but it was helpful to have him there. I pushed the elevator button. I couldn’t lose myself in this relationship.

  I started to get on the elevator, but stopped. Was what we were doing . . . a relationship? I furrowed my brows and stepped on the elevator. No, we were just having sex. Great sex. Intense sex. But it was just sex. I rubbed my fingertips into my temples. Fuck buddies aren’t there for each other, though.

  “Stop thinking, Rachael.” I looked around to make sure no one was in the elevator but me. I needed to get my head on straight before I walked into Carl’s office. I took a detour to the ladies room first.

  It should’ve been exciting, but I was so nervous. The anxiety I felt being so vulnerable was crushing the excitement. I would’ve splashed water on my face, but that would’ve messed up the perfect makeup job I had done.

  I stood back from the mirror and looked at myself again. The red dress seemed a little bolder under the florescent lights. It looked as if everyone would know what I had shown up for that day just by the dress. My curls had stayed perfect even through the humidity. I turned to my side to make sure the back of the dress was still down. I adjusted it and smoothed my hands over my backside to make sure all wrinkles were out. I took a deep breath and walked to his office.

  “Hi, Rachael.” Kylie was so cute. I only wished Cagney wasn’t hitting for the other team because they would’ve made an adorable couple.

  “Hi.” I pointed to Carl’s door. “Is he free?”

  “Yeah, go on in. How’s your dad?”

  I smiled. “He’s doing much better, thank you. It was quite a scare, but he’ll be good as new soon.”

  I put my hand on the doorknob and took another deep breath before I walked in unannounced. He was hunched over the desk looking at several stacks of paper. I almost felt bad for him. He had to be so far behind giving up a few unplanned days. I probably should’ve left, but I didn’t. I closed the door with a bang to get his attention.

  “What is it?” He barely looked up, but did a double take when he noticed I was standing there with my hand on my hip. His smile was contagious. He still looked tired, but it did seem to revive him. “Hey there.”

  He started to get up, but I motioned for him to sit back down and walked around the desk to him. “Hey there.” I threw my purse on his desk and put my hands on his chest to bend down to his face. “I thought I’d come say hi.” I kissed him.

  “You can say hi anytime you’d like.” He kiss
ed me back.

  I pulled back and licked my lips. “It seems you’ve gotten accustom to wearing makeup.” I used my thumb to wipe his lips. “That’s just not going to do it. Let me get something else.”

  I reached for my purse on his desk and bent over more than I needed to so he would look, just as I wanted him to. It didn’t take him long to notice I wasn’t wearing anything under the dress. His hand found the back of my thigh and made its way up to where clothing should’ve been. I moaned.

  “I think someone forgot to get dressed today.”

  I turned and shook my head. “I haven’t forgotten anything.” I looked down to the bulge growing in his pants and smiled. “Well, I just thought I’d stop by.” I started to walk away and he grabbed me.

  “Oh, you’re not going anywhere.”

  “I’m not?” I was breathless just hearing his gruff voice. It turned me on knowing I could do that to him.

  “Not after that display.” He sat me on his lap and started kissing my neck.

  I leaned back into him and gave him better access. “I guess I could stay for a few minutes.”

  His hands roamed all over while his lips stayed on my neck. I lifted my arm and threaded my fingers through his hair. “I want to be inside you.”

  I rotated my hips on his lap. “Who says you can’t?”

  He stopped kissing my neck and turned my face to his. I raised an eyebrow to challenge him. That was all it took. He unbuckled his belt before I batted his hands away. I loved undressing him and exposing his hard cock. I started to go down on my knees and he stopped me.

  “I don’t have time for that. I need to be inside you.” He looked at the door. “Did you lock it behind you?”

  I shook my head and pumped him a few more times before I stood up. “I guess we’ll have to be quick.” I kissed him. “But not too quick.” I reached for my purse to get a condom and he set me on his lap, entering me in one thrust. “Oh!”

  He sat up a little. “Were you not ready?”

  I started moving my hips. “I was, but you weren’t.” I held up the condom. He started to pull out and I sat back down. “I’m on the pill.” I moved my hips faster. “God, you feel good.”

  I leaned back and rotated my hips in slow, steady circles. I wanted to feel all of him. He was concentrating on keeping control. I wanted him to lose control, but I needed to keep this going as long as possible.

  His hands grasped my hips and started lifting me, pumping me on him. I turned my head to his and pressed my lips to his ear. “Let’s go slow for just a little while.”

  He set me back down and allowed me to continue my slow circles. I could’ve cried from the pleasure I felt. I’d never felt that close to someone, that connected before. It started to scare me. I sat up.

  The door opened and Damon walked in. He stopped when he saw me sitting on Carl’s lap. “Sorry boss. I didn’t know you had company. I’ll come back later.”

  We were hidden behind Carl’s desk, so I didn’t stop my movements. I just slowed them down even more and leaned forward on the desk. Carl gripped my hips harder when I started talking. “How are you, Damon? I haven’t seen you for a while.”

  “I’m well, thank you. I’m glad to hear your father is going to be okay. How are you holding up?”

  I turned to look at Carl. “I had some help getting through it.” I turned back to Damon. “The biggest obstacle for my father now is surviving the diet my mother has put him on.”

  Damon smiled. “Well, I’ll let you two get back to your visit. It was good seeing you, Rachael.”

  “It was good to see you, too.”

  The second Damon shut the door Carl stood up and bent me over the desk. “You’ve teased me enough, woman.”

  His hands went back to my hips as he pumped in and out of me. He stopped only long enough to take his jacket off. His thrusts were deep, hard, and powerful and I loved every one of them.

  I pushed myself off the desk to arch my back. He was hitting places that made me scream, but I didn’t need Kylie to know what we were doing. I was sure Damon suspected it, but I didn’t need to confirm it.

  “Carl.” I moaned.

  He must have sensed my struggle to keep quiet. He pulled out, spun me around, and kissed me on the way to the restroom in his office. He walked me backwards toward the sink. Cupping my face, he pulled me away from him.

  “I came in here so you wouldn’t be heard as easily, but make no mistake about it, I will continue fucking you from behind. Scream as loudly as you’d like. I won’t stop to quiet you again.”

  He spun me around and faced me to the mirror. Our eyes locked as he bent me over, placing my hands on the vanity. One word made me clench in anticipation. One word had me ready to beg.

  “Stay.”

  He walked over to shut and lock the door, but he never took his eyes off me. His approval of my display before him made me hot. I was sure he could see me clenching myself, waiting for his return. I looked down in the mirror and closed my eyes. The sight of him hard and almost throbbing for me was too much to take.

  I felt him come up behind me. I held my breath. His hands touched my hips, but slid up my body to my breasts. His hand disappeared in the top of my dress and pulled out my breasts one at a time. It was a little uncomfortable, but I welcomed the distraction to what was happening to the lower half of my neglected body.

  He bent down to my ear and whispered. “I want you to watch us in the mirror. I want you to watch your tits bounce as I fuck you.”

  My eyes flew open and met his in the mirror. He’d never talked to me like that during sex before. I’d never allowed anyone to talk to me like that at any time. I was the one in control. I found something out that day. I found out I liked giving up control.

  I almost stood straight up on the first thrust, but he held my hands down and pinned them to the vanity. “Stay.”

  I looked up to him in the mirror and nodded. He started thrusting again. My head dipped down and I let out a moan. I felt him reach under me and he held my breasts in his hands. He pinched and tugged to an almost painful sensation. I looked at him again.

  “I told you to watch them bounce.”

  “I don’t want to look at my breasts, Carl.”

  He pinched harder. “Just do it.”

  He stood up again and grabbed my hips. I watched him in the mirror for a little while to keep my head up. Low moans escaped him and the look of ecstasy on his face was enough to set me on fire again. I forgot all about the pain he inflicted and focused on the pleasure.

  The thrusts grew harder and I felt my breasts bouncing more. I looked down. “Oh, God.” It was more erotic than I’d thought possible. I loved watching his face and his muscles as he pounded into me; but watching how he made my breasts move became a new focus I’d have to pay attention to more often.

  I started meeting his thrusts, and I thought he would’ve given me another order, but he accepted it. The buildup was starting to happen, and I wanted nothing more than to slow it down, but I needed to feel the release, the explosion he was promising me.

  “Fuck me, Carl.”

  His hand slid around the front and reached between my legs. My moans were growing louder and more uncontrollable. I almost came apart when he touched my clit.

  “I need to hear you and you’re holding back on me. I’m not going to give you what you want until you give me what I want.”

  “I don’t want them to hear me.” I gripped the counter as he drove into me harder. “Oh, don’t stop.”

  He started to go slower. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you?”

  I yelled. “Don’t stop! Don’t stop!” I moaned and moved one hand to the mirror as his thrusts became harder.

  “I’m glad you like this as much as I do.” He bent down and whispered in my ear, “Because I plan on fucking you this way every day.”

  My voice cracked. “Right there.” I started thrusting back against him. I also got louder. “Don’t stop! I need it right there.” I threw m
y head back as he starting going faster. “Yes!” I made fists trying to grab onto anything, but finding nothing.

  My legs started shaking and Carl pulled out to spin me around and set me on the counter. He took no time starting his sweet assault again. This time, he bent down and sucked on my nipple as he pumped in and out.

  I wrapped my legs around him and tried to pull him in closer. “I need more.”

  He put his head in the crook of my neck. “You’re going to burn me alive. You’re so hot.” I squeezed around him causing him to stand up straight. His head fell back and he looked to the ceiling. “Don’t do that.”

  I smiled and did it again. “What are you going to do about it?”

  The challenge in his eyes scared me, but didn’t stop me from doing it again. He licked his thumb and placed it directly on my clit. I closed my eyes as he started his circles.

  “Open your eyes.” It wasn’t a request. “Keep them open.”

  As the pressure and speed of his thumb increased, so did my moaning. He had brought me to the edge so many times that day I thought he was going to pull back again.

  But he didn’t.

  I was finally allowed to go over the edge. He had built me up so much I couldn’t even scream. Pleasure took over my body and controlled everything. I reached a shaky hand down to his and covered it. “Please, I can’t take anymore.”

  His smile was devilish as he bent down and pressed his lips to my ear, he whispered. “You are mine now, Rachael. I own your body and soon I’ll take your heart.” He kissed me and started thrusting to his release.

  That afternoon with Carl left me in a fog. Men didn’t speak that way to me because I never allowed them to. Why had I allowed Carl? What scared me most was how I enjoyed it. He wasn’t disrespectful or cruel, but he was demanding.

  I couldn’t get my mind off him, and I felt dazed and confused. Jimmy had given me the rest of the week off due to my father’s health crisis. I didn’t want to go back in, but I couldn’t sit in my apartment, either. I decided to go to the only other place I felt safe—home.

  I found my mom in the kitchen, as usual. She had started cooking again after her lessons with Drew. “Hi, Mom.” I walked over and kissed her cheek. “What are you cooking?”