by Brenda Ford
Now we just have the awkward goodbye to get through. After that we will go our separate ways and continue to pretend that one another doesn’t exist. Our paths don’t very often cross anyway…
Her hand bag glares at me from the dining table and a cheeky idea crosses my mind. I always have business cards with me and ones with my personal cell phone number on as well. Before I can talk myself out of it, I slip one in to her bag, just in case she changes her mind and she does want to see me again. Maybe.
Chapter 10 – Gemma
Three Weeks Later…
I stare at Connor across the candle lit table, wondering when he is going to start showing me this amazing personality that Eve promised me that he has. She only talked me in to this set up date by convincing me that he is ambitious, fiery, and very funny. Someone who will captivate me enough to make me want to give up my workaholic life style… but she is wrong. Very wrong. Connor is nice enough, in a bland kind of way. I have nothing against him, but he doesn’t ignite that fire within me. He doesn’t make me feel that thing.
I am an idiot; I think to myself sadly as I drag my eyes off of Connor. He has been telling the same story for a long time now and I don’t think he’s too worried that I’m not really listening. A fool.
I don’t even care much about working on a work life balance, even if Eve is still going on about it all the time. The only thing that draws me towards the idea of dating at all is the chemistry that I once shared with Daniel. Sexual connection of course, nothing more, but he unleashed a dragon of desire inside of me and I want it sated once more. But by someone else, not him. Never again. That’s why I told him that we can’t see one another again because it isn’t wise for us to keep n hooking up and hating one another.
Of course, he couldn’t respect that as I found out when I discovered his business card in my hand bag a few days later, and I suppose I am the weirdo for still having it and not tossing it out, but there we go.
I dart my eyes up to see Connor once more, to see if there is anything of a similar spark there between us but I honestly feel empty as I look at him. there isn’t anything there. I just feel nothing. I’m sure that one day, Connor will make a woman feel very happy. He can be loving and sweet and there is a humor there, but because of Daniel I have seen something different. I know what it feels like to be out of control sexually, to have so much passion that it feels like I might die if I don’t have him instantly, and I can’t help but need that in my life now.
Fucking Daniel, I think bitterly with a little shake of my head. Why has he ruined me?
“Would you like another glass of wine?” Connor asks me, waiting for my answer before he pours me the drink. Not like Daniel. He just wanted to get the pair of us drunk to get us through the night.
“Yes, please.” I slide my glass closer to him and try to focus on Connor rather than thinking about Daniel. I keep telling myself that I’m not going to give him any more head space, but it seems like I can’t stop. “Thank you, Connor. So, you were telling me about work. How do you enjoy your job?”
“I don’t have any passion for it, I definitely want something more from my life. I’m just trying to work out what at the moment.” He sighs a little sadly. “I feel a little lost, that’s all.”
I deflate even further. He isn’t ambitious at all, not in the same way that I am. I couldn’t imagine competing with him for success because I’m sure that he would just let me have it. It’s a shame but it seems like that’s what I need as well. Even if I hate Daniel it seems that he has taught me a lot about myself.
Shit, stop thinking about him, will you? I scold myself. Focus on Connor.
“Tell me more about your dreams and ambitious,” I continue, trying to keep my head in the game. I am really struggling with it which is annoying. “I know you said that you are lost, but do you have an idea?”
He gives a very non-committal answer and I try to focus my eyes on Connor, I try not to feel judgmental about the fact that he can’t be what I want, but it just turns me off even more. Me and him are never going to get along in the way that I need to proceed, so in a way we are just wasting one another’s time here.
“Sorry, I just need to head to the bathroom,” I gasp out, needing some air. I just need a moment to work out what way I am going to go next. I need to plan this out perfectly. “I will be back in a moment.”
Connor nods in a breezy manner, not seeing the inner turmoil that I am suffering. He’s just trusting me which makes it even harder because as nice as he is all I want to do is run the hell away from him. So, I step quickly. I walk in to the bathroom at the speed of light. The bathroom is filled with a bunch of women all gossiping much too loudly, so I hide myself in one of the cubicles and lock myself away from the rest of the world.
“What the fuck am I doing?” I whisper to myself as I rake my fingers through my hair. “What is happening?”
I dig my hand in to my bag. I don’t know what I’m looking for exactly, but something to help me. Almost as if fate is interjecting in the most awkward way possible, my fingers curl around the God damn business card. Even though I know that I shouldn’t, I pull it out and look it at, tracing my finger over Daniel’s name as if I actually have feelings for him in a positive way. As if I don’t hate his damn guts.
Call him. I don’t know what my brain is playing at, but it’s clearly on a cheeky vibe. Call him and have some fun. After all, this is your time off, you have planned to spend time with a man.
God, that’s the most stupid idea ever. That’s just idiotic, isn’t it? Why would I even consider spending time with someone who I promised not to see again. But then I would like to know why he left his business card with me. I could just act like I found it now and I want to know what he is playing at…
Why am I doing this? It doesn’t seem to matter that it’s a bad idea, I have my cell phone in my hand, and I am dialing his number even if it is the most stupid idea in the world. I am a fool. A complete idiot.
“Hello, Daniel Wilson speaking,” he answers is a brusque, professional tone of voice. It’s almost funny to hear him with his business head on after everything that we have been through together. “How can I help you?”
“It’s Gemma,” I bite back, keeping the fire going. I don’t want him to know how conflicted I am. “Gemma Dove. Apparently, you gave me your business card at some point, and I am just trying to work out why.”
“Ah, you finally found it.” He sounds much too pleased with himself for my liking. “I’m glad. And you decided to use it as well which is very exciting to me. It makes me wonder why… what do you want?”
“I… I want to know what you thought you were doing.” God, there it is, that spark I was searching for. Fighting for power against Daniel even in a conversation excites me in a way that nothing else ever could. “I told you that I didn’t want to see you anymore, yet you think that it’s okay to leave me your number?”
“You could have thrown the card away, couldn’t you? You didn’t have to call me.” I bristle under his accusation but say nothing. “So, what are you up to right now? It sounds like you are out. Unfortunately for me I just have so much work to do that I am still in the office. It’s hard to be so busy….”
“I’m on a date.” God, I am giving him exactly what he wants. I am fighting him and also trying to make him jealous. I shouldn’t be but I can’t seem to help myself. I am a God damn mess. “With a very nice man.”
“You are on a date, huh?” He sounds annoyingly bemused. “Yet you’re calling me. I take it you aren’t having as much fun as we had on our night with Paige taking a million and one photos?”
“That wasn’t a real date,” I snap back angrily. “That was all for show. You know that.”
“Hmm, and yet what happened underneath the surface wasn’t for show, was it?” I can almost picture the damn smug expression on his face right now and it infuriates me. “What happened the next day wasn’t either and I have to admit that was my favorite part of the date
. It’s a part that I would like to re visit.”
I have to admit that the tingling between my thighs would like to go back to as well, even if it isn’t the wisest thing in the world. The idea of getting that spark back once more is too much for words. I wanted it for Connor but that isn’t going to happen, so maybe I could get it from Daniel. We don’t have to like one another to screw around, do we? And what’s the harm if we are both getting what we want out of it? I mean, there is no chance of me having sex with Daniel and not having an orgasm, he never lets that happen.
“I think that maybe you should come up with an emergency and leave your date,” Daniel continues, sensing the way that my brain is going. “Meet me by my office and we could re visit the fun that we have together.”
I know that I shouldn’t, it’s absolutely obvious that this is the worst idea in the world, yet I find myself agreeing readily. I guess my body has taken control of my brain right now and my need for satisfaction is over shadowing absolutely everything else. I crave some incredible pleasure and I am going to get it. From my enemy.
Luckily there is no one else in the bathroom once I leave the toilet cubicle, so I don’t have to feel like an idiot. Instead, I can stare at my reflection in the mirror, at the stranger looking back at me. I don’t know who the hell this woman is, who is about to bail on a date with a perfectly nice man to go and have sex with Daniel. But even listening to how ludicrous that sounds in my mind isn’t enough to stop me. I want him too badly for that…
And I have to admit that it’s worth it when I eventually get to Daniel’s office and I see that gorgeous hunk of a man waiting for me. He might be an asshole who I don’t like one bit, but he’s sexy as fuck and it’s only his body that I need right now. I’m pretty sure that we have an understanding as well. We don’t even need to talk to one another, we just need to both get our much-needed release. It’s perfect.
“You got out of your date then.” He smiles smugly. “What did you say?”
I grab his hand and start walking determinedly, knowing that I’m not about to get in to any personal details with this man. “That isn’t any of your business. I’m not here to make chit chat with you. Now come on, let’s get a cab back to my place so we can get to the reason we are actually hanging out… and it isn’t to get to know one another.”
Chapter 11 – Daniel
Two Weeks Later…
This networking event is a lot more exciting than they usually are, but that’s because every so often I can feel Gemma making eyes at me and it’s thrilling me to the core. Thankfully, the gossip about us has died down so no one is talking about us these days, no one else knows that we are actually sleeping together now. But not as a relationship thing. More just hooking up. I would call it friends with benefits, but we aren’t exactly friends. We don’t spend time together unless we are having sex, which isn’t usual, but it works for us.
Sure, I personally would still like it to be something more, I still like her more than she does me and would prefer to explore where it could go. Every time I talk to Tim he tries to persuade me of the same thing because he loves the idea that Gemma means more to me than a one-night stand, but she doesn’t want more, so for the time being I am more than happy to carry on the way that we are. It’s a whole lot of fun anyway.
“Hey there.” Roman claps me on the back as if we are old friends. He’s in the same business as me but I wouldn’t consider him a rival. He doesn’t run his company as aggressively as me and Gemma so he will never be as successful. “How’s it going, buddy? Don’t you love all these networking events? So much fun.”
He rolls his eyes and snorts with disgust. To me, these events are integral. Without networking, any advertising business can’t survive. But I don’t need to get in to some kind of debate with him.
“Hmm, sure.” I watch Gemma tossing her head back and laughing loudly at the handsome man in a suit who is doing his best to charm her. I’m sure that from her end this is all business related, but I’m jealous none the less.
“So, how are things with you?” Roman continues. “I’m surprised to see you alone right now.”
“Why is that?” Why is she fluttering her eye lashes at him? Does she like him? Oh God, I might go over there in a moment and stake my freaking claim. “I have been networking while I’ve been here.”
“You usually have a hot young lady hanging off your arm by this point.”
His words remind me of Leanne and how different things were the last time that I was at an event like this. It wasn’t networking then, it was for charity, but my life couldn’t have been more different. I didn’t even look for Gemma then, I didn’t even notice that she was there. Now I can’t keep my eyes off of her. Things were much more simple back then but not as exciting. I didn’t enjoy myself as much as I am right now.
“Yeah well, maybe I am here for business alone right now.” I shrug my shoulders and try to act blasé.
“Maybe so, but I thought sex was how you always did business. I thought that was how you got to the top.”
I am so done with Roman. I don’t like the guy anyway but right now he’s annoying me more than usual. I also don’t like the way that Gemma seems to be flirting with this man. I need to put a stop to it before the jealousy twists up angrily inside of me and turns me in to a green-eyed monster. It makes it worse that I haven’t ever felt this way about someone before, that I don’t know how to deal with these emotions.
“I’ve got to get back to it, Roman,” I tell him as I walk off. “Speak to you later, okay?”
I’m sure that he is offended, but I don’t care. I don’t want anything to do with him right now. I have something much more pressing to deal with. I storm across the room to where Gemma is flirting, and I interrupt the conversation. I’m pretty sure that I’m not wanted but I can’t seem to stop myself.
“Hey there.” I extend my hand out to the man. “I’m Daniel Wilson. Nice to meet you.”
“Zachary Brookes.” He smiles at me, an easy-going good-looking smile which twists up in my gut. “Good to meet you too. I am just getting to know Miss Gemma Dove here. Marketing extraordinaire.”
Oh sure, but she isn’t the only option.” I hand him my business card, not quite sure what the hell I am doing here. “I work in advertising as well. My company is one of the most successful in the city…”
Zachary glances his eyes between me and Gemma, wondering what the hell he has gotten himself in to. At least he seems to assume that it is a business rivalry and not anything more. But he is already backing away, trying to make his escape. I don’t know if either of us will get to work with this man.
“What the hell did you do that for?” Gemma hisses as soon as Zachary has gone. “I had a great bond with that man there. I’m pretty sure that I was going to get some work until you barged in.”
“You were flirting with him,” I shoot back angrily. “You knew that I was watching, and you flirted…”
“I wasn’t flirting I was having a conversation with him. You must be losing your mind. And you don’t have the right to come and yell at me even if I am flirting with someone else. You down own any part of me.”
I feel a heat traveling through my body as she says that because I know that she is right. This jealousy shouldn’t be here circling through my body, none of this should matter, yet it does, and I hate that. “I just…. I just don’t think that it’s right for you to flirt to get to where you want to be. It should be on your talent.”
“Are you joking me right now?” Gemma might as well have steam pouring out of her ears because she’s so angry at me. But it’s okay because her focus is all on me. “I can’t even talk to you.”
Without any warning, she stalks away from me and I can’t help but follow her. I should probably let her cool off a little bit, but I can’t seem to do the right thing when it comes to Gemma, nor does that stop me. I follow her out in to the lobby and even towards the elevator. This event is happening on the eleventh floor of a high rise buil
ding so it seems to me like she might be planning on leaving which I don’t want her to do because of me.
“Gemma,” I call after her. “Gemma, wait. Don’t go. I want to talk to you a moment.”
But she doesn’t. She punches the button and waits for the elevator to arrive with her arms across her chest. I really have enraged her, and I don’t know how I am going to manage this.
The elevator arrives at the same time as me and she steps inside so I do the same thing. I follow her in to the confined space and I stare at her defiantly even as the elevator begins to move. She glares at me, hating me with every inch of herself and I wonder if I will ever be able to get that look off her face… but then she shocks me by grabbing me and kissing me hard. Hard and intensely with so much passion it almost knocks my socks off.
It’s Gemma who presses me up against the wall this time and I have to admit that I am in flames with her taking control of the situation. It’s even more thrilling to have her hand slipping rapidly down my body and pulling my cock out of my trousers. This is definitely going to be a hate fuck and I am all for that.
“Sorry,” I rasp as she strokes my cock rapidly. This is much more dangerous than the last outside excursion we had because the doors could pop open at any moment and reveal us to the world, but I can’t stop.
“Don’t talk,” she barks back. “I don’t have a single fucking thing to say to you.”
She parts her thighs and lets her skirt rise up a little. By the time she angles my cock to slide inside of her, her panties have pulled to one side and her wetness surrounds me instantly. Fucking hell, she is more than ready for me, and I love it. She wants me. Again, she hates me, but she still wants to fuck me which is exciting as hell.
