We lived in a society where information was at our fingertips and the size of one’s knowledge was in high demand. Power to the #nerds because they had the ability to take us down from the inside out but they were some of the nicest people I’ve been privileged to meet.
“Alright Larry, I’ve got to go. They are starting to let people board the plane and I don’t want to miss this flight. I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
“Alright man, take care. Talk to you soon.”
After I landed in Boston, checked into my hotel and then got a ride to the office to find out more about the project I will be taking on and to meet the two staffers joining me on this quest. One turned out to be Clay Clarkwell, and I could already tell he was going to be exhausting and then I met Lindsey Dunn. She was quite the stunner even if I didn’t notice it at first.
When it came to my sense of duty and obligation, I never noticed the opposite sex. To me, everyone I worked with were all the same to me even if they didn’t think so. I could walk into an office building with fifty employees and I would not notice the differences between them. I was the textbook definition of ignorant. It didn’t mean I refused to adapt or change, it just meant that other things were more important to me. I rarely caught onto things until it was too late. It’s already taken me longer than I’d care to admit that the fair-haired beautify affected me far more than I realized.
I wish I could say the business trip went as smoothly as I planned for it but it fell apart from the very beginning and it had me on edge. Both Clay and Lindsey didn’t know what they were doing and in our line of work, following strict protocol was important. It didn’t help that Lindsey’s reaction to my frustration was nothing short of impudent behavior but I didn’t care. She needed to understand what I had to say was for their benefit but I don’t think she saw my dismissal as a learning experience. It did nothing for me other than wonder how she was hired in the first place because I expected more maturity out of my subordinates and a more professional attitude.
So why did I feel bad? Maybe it was Larry’s easygoing nature seeping into the way I typically handled things, and before I knew it, I was treating them to dinner as a consolation prize. Clay was more accepting of my apology but the siren; she was a little more stubborn. She was not one to forgive easily. It took a while but she eventually relented when I battled her stubbornness with indifference and maybe that was the trick. Stubbornness as a tactic to immature women probably needed to be met with indifference because what they truly wanted was attention and coddling but when they don’t get it, they’d rather not lose the entire war if it meant giving up one battle.
It did not make sense now that I thought about it but the indifference worked. Here we were, having Thai take out under her hesitant nature. I wasn’t fully trusted but I was making headway. Maybe then, she’d eventually realize that she needed to own up to her inexperience. It was the only way she was going to grow in our industry. Making friends and being cheerful wasn’t part of our jobs. Our job was to find the needle in a haystack of rats, technically. Our only goal when on assignment was to flush out the wrongdoing even if there wasn’t any on the surface. We’re human after all and every human will go so far if the prize was worth it.
Chapter Seven
Graham
Nearly a decade earlier (continued)…
I stood there out in the hall, holding the bags of food in my hands. I could tell she was unapologetically stubborn. Normally I would not find such a trait appealing in the opposite sex but something about her exasperated and thrilled me at the same time. I didn’t want to admit it but a part of me felt intimidated by her fiery nature. Her furrowed brows, scrunched up nose and thin-lipped smile were more alluring than scary. It made me want to get down on my knees and beg her to do whatever the hell she wanted to do with me but I’d never tell her that. She hated me already without my intending to.
Naturally, the stubborn woman shot daggers at me and it was going to take more than a little peace offering and charm to bring down her guard. Although I loved a good challenge, it wasn’t what brought me up to her hotel room. After a lot of thought and consideration, I realized not every single situation warranted professionalism and perfection. The people who worked alongside me every day at the office were humans outside of it; they weren’t robots. They had families to take care of. Somewhere along the way, I’ve forgotten all of that. When we first met, I thought Lindsey put her work first before anything else but looking at her standing there in the doorway fuming; I knew then it was far from the truth. She was emotional and more humane than I could ever be. I admired that about her even if I thought it only made her weak.
Her long t-shirt, pajama pants and her bright pink painted toes tapped the ground and it gave her a vision of playfulness that contracted the anger she must have felt towards me. It took everything I had to disregard how she looked standing there and focus on the peace offering I attempted to make.
“So, are we going to go inside or were you planning on eating out here in the hallway?” I asked.
She glanced at me, her obvious hunger debating with her resentment and in the end her hunger won, “Yeah, sorry. Come in, please.”
Once she opened the door and stepped out of the way, I walked in and set the bags down on the small table next to the television, “I’m still pissed at you, you know.”
“There’s no need to remind me, I was going to just grab what I brought for myself and I’ll leave you be. I also wanted to offer my apologies and make sure the both of you had something to eat before we head out tomorrow. Also, I’m sorry for being unbearable and a terrible bore all week. I tend to forget everyone may not see things the same way as I do.”
“No, it’s alright. You are not the only one to blame I guess. I overreacted too. I tend to be stubborn and sometimes I go overboard, thinking of only myself.” Lindsey replied as she started helping me take cartons out of the bags.
“Did I just hear Lindsey Dunn apologize? Wow, I never thought I would see the day. I just can’t believe it.” I teased
“Wow, did the mighty Graham Reynolds tell a joke? Come on, I think there should be something good on television, unless you still plan on going to your own room?” she asked.
“Are you sure you want me to stay?”
“If you want to leave, be my guest.” Lindsey shrugged as she sat on the bed.
“Well, I think there is a CSI marathon this weekend. Perhaps we could watch that.” I suggested.
“Wait, hold up. Don’t tell me you love a good investigative drama as much as I do?”
“Looks like I do, I take it you’re a fan.” I said as I sat down beside her.
“You would guess right. I have been a fan for many years. I wouldn’t have pegged you for someone who watched television.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I meant I’m just surprised you watch television at all, let alone CSI.”
“Why are you surprised? I do normal things when I have the time. Besides, who could resist the best show ever made?” I grinned.
“I seriously thought you were the type of person who only watched CNN, if you took the time to watch television at all. Who knew that you loved CSI as much as I did? Totally changed my perception of you.” she looked away trying to hide her laughter.
“I hope it’s a good perception of me. Do you think I’m just this robotic white collar professional?”
Lindsey giggled for the first time all week and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, “I wouldn’t necessarily put you on the cool level but I am a huge fan as well, like I said.”
“Can I ask you a question?” I asked as Lindsey crossed her legs, putting cartons in her lap as she searched for the proper channel.
She raised an eyebrow, “Should I be worried?”
I smiled at her suspicious reaction, “No, I just wanted to know why you chose this field.”
Lindsey gave me another raised eyebrow before answering, “I didn’t exactly choose this
field. It was the first company that wanted to take a chance on me after college and fortunately it worked out okay. I love what I do.”
“Until I came along.” I muttered.
“No, you didn’t ruin anything. At least not completely.” she teased. “How about you?”
“What about me?”
“How did you get into this field? No wait, I want to know what your Alma Mater is.”
“Harvard,” I replied.
She stopped chewing, “Not surprised in the least bit, smarty pants. Compared to where I went, Harvard is like the cream of the crop. Bar none. It’s where everyone wanted to attend besides M.I.T or Berklee College of Music.”
I shook my head, “Going to Harvard has been a family tradition for decades. It doesn’t diminish the value other universities provide and you’re doing great so I don’t really think it matters where one attends.”
Lindsey rolled her eyes as she closed up the food containers and put them on the small end table on her side of the bed, “Sure, it doesn’t if you’re one of the lucky ones. Thrilling and lucky are definitely not the words I would describe the path I have taken so far, but it was not a terrible one either. The only thing I have decided for my life is to go into forensics or something similar. I think I watched too much Magnum P.I. when I was a kid.”
I cleared my throat and shook my head in disbelief, “Magnum P.I? I guess that confirms it. You definitely shocked me. Magnum P.I. is so…”
“Amazing?” she asked.
I stared at her, feigning seriousness, “Eighties.”
We both burst into laughter, “Retro, you mean and just so you know, there’s a remake on television now.”
“Remake or not, it is old school. Nerdy if I might add.” I laughed, closing my own carton. “Though, I am the President of that club, actually. I just approved your membership. I was afraid you would be too nerdy for the rest of us nerds, but we decided to take a chance on you anyway.”
“Thank you very much,” she bowed. “Though, there is something to be said about a guy who wears socks with a pizza slice pattern on.”
“Ah, you noticed.”
“Of course I did, it wasn’t as if you were trying to hide it,” she laughed.
“What can I say? They are one of my favorite pairs. I think they make me look more distinguished.” I winked.
Lindsey wrinkled her nose, I wouldn’t say they make you look distinguished but I promise not to make fun of you the next time I see you wearing them.”
“Wise choice,” I replied.
“Thank you for the compliment. How about that marathon…”
“Yeah, it’s about time we get started on it.”
The television remote, which unknowingly sat at the edge of the bed teetered off from our movements and dropped to the floor, “Damn.”
As it fell to the floor, Lindsey and I both made a dive for the remote at the same time and before we realized what was happening, we fell off my side of the bed with Lindsey landing right on top of me, “Oof.”
“Got it!” she announced. “Oh, geez. I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine, really. Don’t worry about it.”
I chuckled before we both realized the situation we were currently in. We stared at each other for a brief moment, her lips close to mine, eyes wide with surprise. We laid there frozen for several moments until she blinked and pointed up at the bed, “We should probably…”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” I said as I got up. Before I knew it, I reached for her gently, tugging her chin, “Ah, to hell with consequences.”
The look of surprise on her face was almost humorous but she didn’t refuse. I cupped the side of her face and caressed her cheek with my thumb while my other hand slid to her neck. Pulling her back down, I pressed my lips gently to hers. They were soft and seductive, almost as if I received entrance to a magical place only a few people were allowed to experience.
Her hands moved over my chest and I thought she was going to push herself off me, but she didn’t. Instead, her hands slid up my chest and her fingernails dug into me as she closed her eyes tightly and gave into my touch. Her knees had dropped to either side of my hips, straddling me and her back arched slightly. My other hand slowly crept up to her waist, not wanting to spook her. Carefully my hands met the soft skin of her lower back and we both let out a heated flicker of breath. She pulled up just slightly, just enough for her lips to whisper against mine.
“Maybe,” she said breathlessly. “We shouldn’t.”
She still had her eyes closed, her body pressing into mine and I knew she was debating if this was a good idea or not. I slid my hand from her face and down to her hips. Pushing upward, I ground upward as my hand gripped her hips. Her mouth came open just slightly as she gasped, pressing back as she shifted her hips to straddle my already restrained cock. I continued to kiss her, moving my lips down her neck, smelling the sweet scent of honeysuckle along her collarbone. She groaned just soft enough for me to hear it through the shudders in her breath.
I chuckled and nibbled on her neck before moving back up, gripping the edge of her t-shirt and pulling it up. She sat up on her knees and pulled it the rest of the way off, showing her black lacy bra underneath. I smirked, narrowing my eyes. “Really? I figured you would have chosen white.”
She grinned popping the clasp and tossing it over her head. She leaned down and ran her tongue over my lips. “I’m proper in the daylight and a vixen underneath.”
With that, she bit my bottom lip and sucked it into her mouth. My eyes immediately rolled back as she moved down my body, grabbing the top of my pants and quickly unbuttoning them. She was not only sexy, but she was educated, self-assured, and knew how to make a person want her. Qualities I never doubted about her.
I lifted my ass up as she pulled my slacks off me, wasting zero no time with my boxer briefs. She made sure they were coming off too. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes widened, her hand sliding up my leg to grab my cock that stood straight up waiting for her. I tried to sit up but she put her hand down hard on my chest, crawling up me and stopping with a pucker to her lips that she instantly lowered to the tip of my dick.
My whole body clenched in anticipation and she noticed, a grin pulling at the corners of her mouth. She opened her lips wide and giggled as she moved her head up slightly, looking up towards my face.
I blinked my eyes trying to focus on anything other than her large breasts trailing my legs and my imagination already having her mouth at the base of my cock. I chuckled, shaking my head and wrapped my hand through her hair at the back of her head. I gripped her hair tighter and groaned, throwing my head back.
“Oh shit,” I said holding my breath.
She laughed and continued, sensually moving her mouth up and down the shaft, digging her fingers into my thighs and moaning slightly in delight. I could have laid there all night like that, but there was no way I was missing the rest of her. I reached down and grabbed her cheeks, lifting her up and off my dick. Sitting up I looked at her dark eyes and wet lips, bringing her mouth to mine.
This time there was no small peck or press of steamy want; I opened my mouth and took her in, running my tongue over hers and tasting her lips. She groaned as I pushed back, holding her neck and keeping my mouth on hers as I laid her on the floor. With one hand, I pulled her pajama pants down, letting her do the rest with her feet.
I focused on my lips to hers, feeling the passion rising wildly as she ran her hands up my sides and over to my back. My hand though, it was doing its own form of exploration. My palms pressed to her flat stomach and pushed down, maneuvering beneath her panties and down between her legs. She opened up for me, letting her knees sway open.
The tips of my fingers rubbed through her hot wet pussy, and she gasped in my mouth as I hit her clit, rubbing circles around it. I pulled my tongue from her mouth and rubbed my lips across her cheek to her earlobe. My hand slipped down further and I gently pushed a finger inside of her. She tilted her head back and moaned,
gripping my shoulders.
“I want you in me,” she whispered desperately.
“Yeah?” I asked, meeting her face with mine as I began to finger her faster.
She gripped the floor on either side and bit her lip. “Yes, please.”
“Please?” I repeated with a sly grin as I pulled my finger in and out and then up across her nub.
She opened her eyes and gave me a look I would never forget for the rest of my life. She lifted up her head, rammed her tongue into mine, pulled just enough away to get her hand back on me, and dug her nails into my skin.
“Yes,” she said firmly. “Fuck me right now.”
I raised my eyebrows and nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”
I pulled my fingers out of her and pulled her panties down her legs and off. She sat up and I pulled her further until she was on her knees and facing the end of the bed. I wrapped my hand around her abdomen and slowly slid it down, cupping her pussy. My other hand pulled her legs to each side and my hips thrust my cock between her legs from the back. As I pulled her ass toward me, I kissed the side of her neck and tilted my hips down and then quickly back up, ramming my dick through her warm juices and deep inside of her.
She moaned out and I matched her with my baritone. From there it was hot but fast, both of us on the brink of explosion. She rocked back to meet me and I slammed forward and up pushing deep into her as my fingers rubbed her clit wildly. They were short hard slams over and over again, her body tightening as she screamed out in pleasure. Just a few moments later, she reached back, gripping my ass and pulling me into her harder and faster.
Strange Love (Choose Yours Book 1) Page 6
