Cocky S.O.B.

by Vanessa Winters

  “We did it!” I tell Emma, pulling her in for a hug.

  “You earned it, boss. Now go ask Melody out to celebrate.” She drops her voice for the last part so only we can hear. I want to argue and say it’s not going to happen, but we both know it is.

  “I think I will.”

  I walk over to Melody’s desk. She opens her mouth to congratulate me, but I cut her off. “Are you free tonight?”

  She nods.

  “Can I take you out on a date?”

  Melody smiles. “Yeah, you can.”

  “I’ll pick you up at eight. Text me your address.”

  Waiting to pick up Melody is worse than waiting for my dad to get to the office. I stand in my penthouse apartment and check my reflection. I put on slacks and a button-down shirt, which is exactly what I wear in the office, but I couldn’t wear the same outfit I had on all day.

  Finally, the clock strikes seven forty-five and I can leave to pick up Melody. I climb into my Mercedes and make my way to her apartment. She lives in a house, but she mentioned her apartment is the bottom floor. Carrying a bouquet of roses, I walk to her door.

  Melody answers on the first knock. “Hey,” she says. “You look great.”

  I take in the dark red dress she’s wearing. “So do you,” I manage to choke out.

  I open the car door for Melody and she climbs in. I made a last-minute reservation at an Italian restaurant in Boston. When we get there, our table is ready.

  Melody stares wide-eyed at the menu. “Wow. There are a lot of options. Do you have any recommendations?”

  I laugh. “I like the spaghetti and meatballs or the ravioli. I’m going with ravioli today.”

  She considers this. “I’m not big on ricotta cheese, but I love spaghetti.”

  Our waiter comes over and asks for our drink order. We give him our food order at the same time. I add an order of garlic bread, too, because they make it from scratch and it should be illegal to come here and not try the bread.

  “I’m really happy for you,” Melody says after we’ve placed our order. “I’m glad you beat Jack. I know I shouldn’t say that, since he’s my boss, but it’s the truth.”

  “I appreciate that. I’m sorry that you have to work for him.”

  She bites her lip. “What he did to you is terrible, but he’s really not that bad as a boss. I’ve had worse.”

  “I’ve heard that. He’s my brother and I love him. But he’s lazy. That’s why he needed to steal my idea.”

  “You should tell the board,” Melody says. “Your dad would stop the competition…”

  I shake my head. “He has friends on the board. Plus, I don’t think Dad would stop the competition. He might keep a closer eye on Jack, but he loves the game too much.”

  “That sucks,” Melody says. “Having a brother seems exhausting.”

  “It can be. Do you have any siblings?”

  “None. I used to want some, but now I’m glad I never got my wish.”

  “Having siblings isn’t always bad. I had a built-in friend growing up.”

  “Still not worth it, in my opinion.”

  We continue to chat until our food comes. When it does, Melody’s face lights up. I should have warned her that their servings are huge.

  “This is delicious,” Melody says, taking a huge bite of her spaghetti. “I love pasta. If I could only have one food for the rest of my life, it would be pasta.”

  “That’s the best answer. It’s so versatile. There are hundreds of pasta meals you could make. You’d never get bored.”

  “Exactly!” she says. The conversation continues to flow easily. We talk about our lives, our majors, and our families, but we avoid talking any more about work. There’s nothing that kills a date faster than talking about my brother, so I’m grateful.

  After we’re done eating, the waiter comes by, offering us the dessert menu.

  Melody clutches her stomach. “If I eat another bite, you’ll have to roll me out of here.”

  “I think we’ll just take the check,” I say. Melody nods. After I’ve paid the bill, we get back in the car and head for Melody’s apartment. It’s a little after ten, but I’m not ready for the night to end. I hope Melody feels the same electricity between us that I do.

  Sitting in front of her house, our eyes meet.

  “Do you want to come in?” Melody asks, her cheeks pink. I guess she is feeling it.

  “Yeah, I do.”

  My agreement ignites something between us. I lean over the cup holders and kiss her hard. She moans against my lips and runs her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer.

  “I think we should go inside,” she says, breathless. “I don’t want you to get a ticket.”

  I kiss her again. “It would be worth it.”

  We both laugh, but we go inside her apartment instead of risking it. As soon as she closes the door behind us, I pounce on her again. Our kisses are deep but quick, like we can’t possibly get enough of each other. I slip my hand up under the hem of her skirt and run my nails against her side.

  “Bedroom,” she says, leading the way. Our lips never come apart. When we’re in her room, I push her back onto the bed and kiss her lips, her neck, and her chest.

  “Off,” I say. Melody raises her arms so I can pull off her dress. Her black panties and lacy bra are almost enough to finish me off right here. “You’re so beautiful.”

  Melody blushes. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

  I start to unbutton my shirt, but it’s not quick enough for Melody. She pulls the shirt apart, sending small white buttons all over the floor.

  “Sorry,” she says innocently. “I’ll buy you a new shirt.”

  I lean forward to kiss her neck. “I have so many shirts. I don’t need any more. I need you.”

  Melody slides the shirt off my shoulders and tosses it in a pile with her dress. Her hands roam over my chest.

  “You go to the gym.”

  I laugh. “I try.”

  She traces one finger between my pecs and down below my belly button, finally coming to a rest at the hem of my pants.

  “I want these off, too,” she says.

  I start to unbutton them, but Melody pushes my hand away. She undoes the button and zipper and yanks down the pants, taking my boxers with them.

  “This isn’t fair,” I say, pressing a hard kiss against her lips. “You’re less naked than me.”

  She gives me a lustful grin. “Let’s change that, then.”

  Her bed is behind us. I push her down on it and climb on top of her. My hand slips into her panties and finds her center already wet and waiting for me. I insert one finger, then two, then three. She moans with each thrust.

  My other hand reaches behind her back to undo her bra. The black fabric slips off her perfect mounds.

  I kiss each nipple, my tongue dancing over her sensitive nubs.

  “Fuck, Cameron, that feels good.”

  “I have something that’ll feel even better.”

  Our eyes meet. “I want it. Give me all of you.”

  “Your wish is my command,” I respond. I pull my fingers from her pussy and offer her a taste. She licks them greedily. With my other hand, I slide her panties from her legs.

  “Now we’re even,” I say with a grin.

  She arches her back. “Please, Cameron.”

  My cock is already hard. I line myself up with Melody’s soaking hole.

  “Yes,” she cries out when I enter her. “You fill me up so good.”

  Her legs wrap around my back, pulling me as far as I can go. We rock in unison, the pleasure building until it’s too much.

  “I’m gonna cum,” she screams, her nails raking down my back.

  “Yeah, baby,” I whisper, kissing her lips, her neck, her breasts. “Cum for me.”

  Her entire body quakes. “YES CAMERON!”

  “You’re so tight, Melody. I’m close.”

  “Cum inside me,” she begs. “Please, I need it.”

&nbs
p; Her words push me over the edge. I thrust in one last time, my balls slapping against her pussy, and fill her up with my hot seed.

  We lay back on the bed, both breathless. “Wow,” Melody says.

  “Yeah,” I agree. “We’re good at that.”

  She giggles. “Maybe too good.”

  I disagree. There’s no such thing as too good. I tell her as much, and that I’ll prove it. I roll over on top of her, and we get ready for round two.

  It’s not too good. It’s not good enough.

  It’s perfect.

  13

  Melody

  When I wake up, my bed is empty.

  Did last night happen? My aching muscles say it did. I haven’t had sex that good since… well, since my last boyfriend.

  I listen for movement in my apartment. Cameron doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to leave without saying goodbye. Was I just a one-night stand to him?

  My apartment is quiet. I sit up and find a folded piece of paper on his side of the bed.

  Sorry, I have a meeting this morning. Some people can only meet on Saturdays, apparently. I had a lot of fun last night, though. I can’t wait to see you on Monday. Call me when you wake up. -Cameron

  My heart starts to race. Last night did happen. And it was a horrible mistake.

  I work with him! What was I thinking?

  He was so sweet, and our date was perfect. It was easy to fall into bed with him. Easy and so, so bad. I can’t date someone I work with. I tried that once before.

  My ex-boyfriend was also a CEO. His brewery has expanded from a local haunt to being in demand across the country. I wanted to be a part of that, so I applied to be an assistant. Despite having no experience, I got the job. I wasn’t Kyle’s assistant, but I worked in his office. I was helping with the expansion. They had a manager in charge of opening new branches of the brewery, and I helped her with whatever she needed.

  Somehow, that meant I spent a lot of time with Kyle. I was hesitant, knowing he was at the top of the company’s totem pole, but he won me over. We fell in love, or so I thought.

  I was twenty-one, fresh out of college, and naïve. Kyle was twenty-seven, hot, and powerful. My parents hated him. My friends were suspicious. I didn’t care. I knew who Kyle was and he knew who I was.

  The first two years were perfect. We spent time together at work, going over expansion plans, and then we’d go out on sweet dates and he would stay over at my apartment a few nights a week. We always stayed at my apartment, and I understood why. Kyle was the CEO. Even though I wasn’t his assistant, we had to keep our relationship a secret. Our dates were far enough away that we wouldn’t see anyone we knew. My apartment is outside of Boston and none of our coworkers live in the area. His apartment was surrounded by people we worked with or people who could tell our coworkers. My place was safer, and I was okay with that.

  After those first two years, things started to shift. I wanted more of a commitment from Kyle. I told him I’d quit my job so we could go public, but he insisted they needed me working at the brewery. He said the expansions couldn’t go forward without me. We’d opened two new breweries in Massachusetts, but we were in the midst of opening another branch in California. Kyle’s company was taking both coasts.

  Kyle refused to commit. I refused to be his puppy dog. We fought more and more. The sex was still good, but we weren’t having it as often.

  Finally, on January seventh, which was our fourth anniversary, I was ready to give him a choice. We go public with our relationship, or I’m out. The holidays had been rough on us and I was done hiding. I knew Kyle loved me, and I had no doubt he would choose me.

  I planned on doing it after work. We had a standing dinner reservation for Thursday nights, and this one happened to fall on our anniversary. It was perfect timing.

  Until he showed up to work that day. With a woman on his arm. A woman I knew well.

  She was the expansion manager.

  Apparently, they had been dating for five years. Because he was her direct superior, they couldn’t be public, but they did live together. The expansion was done, for the time being, so she found another job and they could finally tell everyone the truth.

  If that wasn’t a big enough blow to my gut, they also announced their engagement that night.

  I want to say I confronted Kyle and the manager, Delta. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Instead, I quit my job and spent almost a full year trying to find a new one and get over him. Good thing I had decent savings and my parents let me off the hook for rent.

  So that’s why I can’t date anyone from work. There are too many secrets involved. Too many complications. And too many cheating assholes who have a live-in girlfriend while they’re ‘dating’ you.

  I’ve always wondered where he told her he was going when he stayed at my place. I’ll never find out. They’re married now, according to Facebook. They didn’t want a long engagement.

  My heart is racing. I need to talk to Daniela.

  She picks up on the first ring. “Hey, why are you awake?”

  “Daniela, I fucked up.”

  The tears pour out before I have a chance to stop them.

  “Woah, easy, what’s going on?”

  I tell her everything. From what happened with Kyle, which she already knew, to what happened with Cameron, which she didn’t. When I finally finish, she’s quiet.

  “Do you like Cameron?” she asks gently.

  I wipe my eyes. “I do, but it doesn’t matter.”

  “Melody…”

  “No,” I say, my tone harsh. “I won’t go down that road again. Kyle destroyed me. Four years, Daniela. We were together for four years. The whole time he was dating someone else. I was the other woman for four years.”

  “That has nothing to do with Cameron.”

  “It does, though. We worked together. That’s why I let it happen.”

  Daniela scoffs. “You didn’t let anything happen, that asshole…”

  “I bought his excuses because they made sense. There really were rules against us dating, even though he wasn’t my direct supervisor. If a random guy off the street said we couldn’t tell anyone about our relationship, I’d have kicked him to the curb. I believed Kyle because there was a factual basis to the secretive nature of our relationship. I won’t put myself in that position again.”

  “Is there a no dating rule at Snax?”

  “I don’t know, and it doesn’t matter. I don’t trust myself when it comes to coworkers. I can’t go out with him again. I shouldn’t have gone out with him last night.”

  The memory of his eyes locking with mine as we made love strikes me, but I shake it off. I don’t care how good the date was, and how much better the sex was afterward. I made a promise to myself, and I won’t break that for anyone. Not even someone with beautiful, blue eyes like Cameron’s.

  “Melody, I think you’re being irrational.”

  I laugh. “I’m being more rational than I’ve ever been,” I say. “This, though, might be irrational.”

  “What?”

  “I want you to hook me up. With that guy, Xander.”

  “Melody, no.”

  “Come on, Daniela. You’ve been pushing me towards him since the party last year.”

  “But you like Cameron. You should give it a shot with him.”

  I roll my eyes. “Have you been listening to me?”

  She sighs. “Fine. I’ll give him your number, but that’s all I’m doing to facilitate your relationship.”

  “That’s all I need you to do.”

  “I don’t agree with this.”

  “I know. But I need to do it.”

  “Fine,” Daniela says. “I get that. I love you, you know.”

  “I love you, too.”

  We chat a bit more, then hang up. An hour later, I have a new text from an unknown number.

  Hey, it’s Xander Duncan. Daniela gave me your number.

  I respond immediately. Hi, Xander. I’m glad you reached out!
<
br />   Me, too, he answers. Do you want to get together next week? Go out for dinner?

  It doesn’t sit right in my stomach, but I know I need to get over Cameron. Xander is not a coworker. He’s safe.

  Yeah, I’d love to. How does Tuesday sound?

  Xander’s response is quick. Tuesday is great. I’ll pick you up at seven.

  And just like that, I have a date.

  14

  Cameron

  Melody has been ignoring me since Friday night. She never called me Saturday morning, and she didn’t answer the few texts I sent her over the weekend.

  I did something wrong, I’m just not sure what. Should I have woken her up when I left? It was six in the morning, but maybe it shouldn’t have mattered. I could have told her I was leaving and then she could have gone back to sleep.

  I picked up flowers on my way in, figuring that would be a good start to an apology. They still look bright and beautiful in the vase on my desk. Melody should get in soon. I don’t want to seem too eager, so I’m going to give her a little while to get settled in.

  At nine-fifteen on the dot, I make my move.

  She’s wearing black work pants and a green top today. Her pair is pulled back in a bun instead of flowing around her shoulders.

  My heart is beating way too fast. I hope I make it to her desk without passing out.

  I do, and she looks up innocently. “Oh. Hey.”

  “Hey,” I say. “I got you these.”

  I hand her the vase of roses. She takes them awkwardly and sets them down on her desk, right next to her calendar.

  I don’t mean to pry, but I notice an entry I hadn’t seen last week. “Date with Xander, 7pm” is written in tomorrow’s square.

  What I should do is ignore it. It’s none of my business what she does. One night does not mean we’re in a relationship. Besides, she could have had that in there last week and I just didn’t notice it. Either way, I should walk away without saying anything.

  “Who’s Xander?”

  So much for not saying anything. I try to keep my tone as casual as possible, but the jealousy is clear even to me. I’m glad Jack’s door is closed she he’s not witnessing my embarrassment.