Boss Next Door

by Beverly Evans

  “I’m just nervous,” she finally blurts out.

  I should have known. But I have so much confidence in her talent and ability, it actually never occurred to me that she’d be nervous about it. To be fair, this is the first time she’ll be presenting her own work, so I understand her having a touch of nerves about it.

  “You’ll be great, Chloe,” I encourage her. “I have every confidence that you’re going to knock it out of the park.”

  She gives me a grateful smile but remains silent, still not looking entirely convinced. I suppose she thinks I’m biased. That I’d have to tell her that just because of our history. I move over to the couch and sit down next to her, looking deeply into her eyes.

  “Do you really think I’d have you here, making this presentation if I didn’t believe in you?” I press gently.

  She shrugs. “I think maybe because of our personal… thing, you might be seeing things more generously than is warranted.”

  I laugh out loud. “Chloe, you are one of the most talented designers I know.”

  “I’m also one of the least experienced,” she says softly. “Maybe you should have had Curtis deliver the presentation –”

  “This is your show, and you deserve the credit for your design,” I cut her off. “Period.”

  She falls silent and looks down at her hands, which she’s wringing in her lap, her face etched with fear. I wish I could do something to take that fear away from her, to give her some of the confidence in her I feel.

  “Chloe, you are one of the most fearless women I know –”

  She lets out a sharp bark of laughter and shakes her head. “Hardly.”

  “It’s true. You have an amazing strength and courage inside of you,” I insist. “It’s one of the things I find most attractive about you.”

  She raises her eyes to mine, a small smile touching her lips. “I don’t feel very strong right now.”

  “Then tell me what you’re so afraid of.”

  She lets out a long breath. “Did you know that you’re the reason I wanted to be an architect?”

  I shake my head. “No, but I’m flattered,” I respond. “But I think you give me too much credit.”

  “No, really. Way back in the day, shortly after we first met, I remember you talking about your passion for design,” she muses. “I remember you being so passionate about creating something beautiful out of nothing and your excitement about sharing that beauty with other people. You were like an artist – and inspiring as hell.”

  “Yeah well, the reality is much different than my idealistic self once thought this would be like,” I chuckle. “People don’t really stop to appreciate a building’s design as much as I thought they would. I’ve definitely had to temper some of my creativity.”

  “But I’ve seen some of your designs, Braxton. They’re inspired. Passionate,” she continues. “Your creations are amazing.”

  I give her a small smile. The one thing I miss most about my current position atop the company food chain is that I have less time to devote to designing than I’d like. But when I have a dance card as filled as I normally do, there’s not much time to indulge in that love of creation. Not that I’m complaining. I do what I can and enjoy seeing my teams design some truly breathtaking things.

  “I guess because I’m so passionate about this, I’m afraid that I’ll turn out to not be very good at it,” she murmurs softly. “I don’t want to be shitty at something I love.”

  I laugh and squeeze her shoulder reassuringly. “You are an amazing designer, Chloe,” I tell her. “I’m not just blowing sunshine up your ass. If I didn’t think you were good at what you do, I’d tell you. Ask Curtis about if that’s true or not.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t like him,” she laughs. “Also, you’re not sleeping with him.”

  “True on both counts. But we haven’t slept together since –”

  Her cheeks color, and she looks away, a small embarrassed smile on her face. It’s true though – we haven’t had sex since that day in my backyard. That sudden withdrawal from physical affection has only made me want her more. I know our sleeping together freaked her out a bit, so I don’t want to press her any harder. I know she wants me – I can see it whenever I look her in the eye – but I know she’s keeping her desires in check. I suppose I can’t blame her, given our history.

  I don’t want to make her uncomfortable though, so I’ll go at her pace and won’t pressure her to sleep with me again. Besides, it’s always better and hotter when it’s because she wants to, and her desire becomes undeniable.

  “You know me, and you know I don’t lie – especially just to spare somebody’s feelings,” I respond.

  She grins. “That’s true. I used to think you were an asshole for sometimes being so blunt,” she tells me. “But, over time, it was something I came to appreciate about you – your honesty.”

  I nod. “And believe it or not, my personal feelings for him aside, when Curtis does something well, I’m never afraid to tell him. I really do think he’s an incredible designer, he just isn’t willing to put his own ego aside for the sake of the client or the team,” I add. “So when I tell you that you’re a fantastic designer, and I believe in you, you should know I mean it.”

  Her smile shifts from tentative to grateful, but I can still see the conflict on her face. She’s still so uncertain about her own abilities. It’s actually kind of adorable. Totally misplaced, given that I’m sure she gave tons of presentations back in her old career, but adorable. I pick up her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze.

  “You know how to give a presentation because you know how to talk to people,” I continue. “And that’s all this is – just talking to people. You’re great with people, Chloe. You’ve got this.”

  She grins. “If I flame out in spectacular fashion tomorrow, just remember that it’s your fault,” she laughs. “I told you I might suck at this.”

  “Fair enough,” I laugh along with her.

  We sit on the couch, her hand still in mine, our gazes locked, and I feel my pulse quicken. The light of the day has bled away, leaving us in that dusky twilight state. But even the dim lighting and long shadows it casts can’t obscure her beauty.

  We sit there for what feels like an eternity, just staring into each other’s eyes, slowly drawing closer until we are only inches apart.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this,” I attempt, trying to pull back, but remaining transfixed by her.

  “I know,” she whispers and kisses me gently.

  The dam bursts. Slipping my hand up her arm, I cup the back of her head and pull her to me. Her full, moist lips part as she presses her mouth to mine. Chloe draws in a sharp breath, then forces her tongue into mine.

  I groan when she grips my cock through my jeans, squeezing it hard. As I gently nip at her neck and run my hand up her thigh, Chloe moans. She climbs into my lap, straddling me and starting to grind herself against the bulge in my pants. She rolls her hips, grinding herself harder against me, my cock stiffening until it’s impossibly hard in my jeans.

  Her aggressiveness in bed is a massive turn on for me, as is her taste for things of a little rougher variety. Sex with Chloe is anything but vanilla. I couldn’t possibly love it more.

  As she writhes atop me, our mouths find each other, our tongues swirling and dashing together. I slip the straps of her sundress down, letting her breasts spill out into my hands. Cupping one gently, I give her nipple a hard pinch as I suck and nip at the other.

  She grips the back of my head and pulls it back hard, biting my neck and kissing me hard as she grinds herself against my rock-hard cock. She pulls back and looks me in the eye, chewing on her bottom lip with a wicked grin on her face. She pushes me down onto the couch, so I’m flat on my back and then climbs up my body. She lets out a frustrated grunt as she stands up and quickly pulls her panties off, flinging them across the room.

  That done, she bunches the thin material of her sundress around her waist before straddling my
face. Chloe’s scent is the most delicate and erotic perfume as she straddles my face. It fuels the lust rising within me. She grips my hair hard, pulling my mouth toward her wetness, a wicked gleam in her eye.

  “I want to feel your tongue inside of me,” she moans. “Lick my pussy, Braxton.”

  I look up at her with a smile and grip her hips, pulling her down onto my face as I part her wet, swollen lips with my tongue, driving it deep into her, the taste of her in my mouth absolutely intoxicating. She grinds herself down on me, taking my tongue deep into her, my face slick with her juices. I lick, and I suck, sliding my hands up her body, cupping her breasts and pinching her nipples harder.

  I plunge my tongue into her again and again, sliding my hand down to squeeze her firm ass, reveling in the feel of her silky-smooth skin beneath my fingers. Chloe throws her head back, moaning loudly as she writhes upon my face, grinding herself harder against my mouth. I lap at her wetness with vigor, relishing every last drop of her upon my lips.

  “Oh fuck,” she draws in a shuddering breath. “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck yes.”

  Her thighs tighten around my head, and her grip on my hair tightens painfully as she starts to shudder and then cries out as her orgasm comes crashing down upon her. I keep licking and lapping at her juices as she comes, unable to get enough of her.

  Chloe draws in a sharp breath and scoots back, a stuttering laugh passing her lips. She looks at me with a crooked smile. She chews on her bottom lip, her eyes glittering with undisguised lust.

  She runs the tip of her tongue around her lips, looking like the living incarnation of sex itself.

  “Your turn,” she whispers.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chloe

  My pussy is tingling and dripping wet as I look down at Braxton’s face staring back up at me from between my thighs. Seeing my juices slicking his face and the look of absolute desire in his eyes sets my wet center on fire again. Reaching behind me, I grip his throbbing dick through his pants, stroking and rubbing him.

  “Stand up and take your clothes off,” I order him.

  I slide off him, allowing Braxton to get to his feet. He kicks off his shoes quickly and looks at me with a playful grin on his face as he slowly takes his shirt off. He tosses it onto the chair behind him. I let my eyes slide up and down his hard, toned torso. Reaching out, I drag my nails down his body, the feel of his taut flesh making the center of me burn even hotter.

  He unbuckles his belt and pushes his pants down his hips, letting them fall where they pool around his feet. I lick my lips as I gaze upon his thick, rigid shaft, and anticipate having it plunging deep inside of me.

  Braxton steps out of them, and I drag my nails, still on his flat, toned stomach, even lower. He lets out a low groan of pleasure as I slide them down his thighs, then trace them back up again. I wrap my hand around the base of his thick cock, squeezing it as tight as I can, drawing a moan from his lips. Leaning forward, I slide the tip of my tongue around the head of his dick as I start to pump my hand up and down his shaft.

  He draws in a sharp breath as I swallow down as much of him as I can. I move my head up and down, moving my hand in time with my mouth. Braxton’s eyes are locked onto mine, and he moans as I suck and stroke him hard and fast. I feel his body tensing beneath me and his thickness swelling in my mouth.

  Braxton reaches down and grips my hair tightly, starting to rock his hips. His body shudders as he tightens his fist in my hair, fucking my mouth hard. I reach down and slide two fingers deep into my pussy, growing even wetter as I bang myself hard, relishing the feel of Braxton pumping his dick into my mouth.

  He lets out a long, loud moan as he steps back abruptly, a lopsided smile on his face. I look up at him with a grin knowing how close he’d come to bursting in my mouth.

  I stand and then push him down into a sitting position on the sofa. Reaching down, I pluck Braxton’s wallet out of his pants and fish a condom out of it. He watches with a smile on his face as I tear open the package and then grip his staff with one hand, unrolling the condom down his cock with the other.

  Climbing onto his lap, I reach down and grip his mighty cock, rubbing it against my clit. I close my eyes and shudder as I slide the rod across my slick lips, tendrils of electricity crackling along my skin. I nestle the head between the soft folds of my pussy, then grit my teeth as I lower myself upon him, taking him into me inch by glorious inch.

  Biting my bottom lip, I grip his shoulders and dig my nails into his shoulders, wincing at the slight pinch of pain. He’s so large – or maybe I’m just so small – that it takes me a moment to adjust to having his cock inside of me. Braxton leans forward and takes my breasts into his mouth, licking and sucking on one nipple while kneading the other.

  He gives my nipple a sharp tweak that makes me yelp, and I start to roll my hips, grinding myself against him. Braxton grabs the back of my head, and our mouths crash together, our tongues swirling and dashing against one another as I start to bounce myself up and down on his hard cock.

  I feel Braxton’s hands on my ass, squeezing hard, his fingers pressing into my flesh. My ears ring with the sharp crack of flesh as he slaps my ass. I let out a loud squeal and a giggle of delight. The bright bolt of pain that jolts my body as he spanks me again spurs me on. Rising and falling, I impale myself on his thick cock again and again.

  I roll my hips harder, thrusting myself against his staff with everything in me. He stretches me open and hits that spot deep inside of me as my body is rocked with explosions of sensation.

  I grab Braxton’s hand and lift it up. He gives me a questioning look as I place it against my neck, wrapping his fingers around my throat. He gives me a devious grin and tightens his grip on my throat. A smile curling my lips upward, I bounce up and down harder on his thick cock, my breath ragged, and my pulse racing. Braxton uses his other hand to slap my ass, which sends an electric charge through me and combined with the delicious pressure on my throat, intensifies the pleasure surging through me.

  I thrust myself up and down, grinding down on his staff even harder, his moans matching my own.

  “God yes, fuck me, Chloe,” he gasps. “You’re so fucking tight. You feel so fucking good.”

  I grab a handful of his hair and yank his head back, biting his neck before my mouth finds his. Our tongues dash together with the same frenzied passion as our bodies are crashing against one another. I thrust myself downward one last time, taking Braxton into me as deep as I can go and hold myself there.

  He’s gritting his teeth as I squeeze my inner muscles, gripping his rock-hard organ with my pussy even tighter. As he gives my throat a final tight squeeze, a scream of ecstasy bubbles up and out of my throat. I yank his head back viciously, lowering my head and nipping hard at his neck as I explode. Braxton is only a moment behind me and gives my ass one last slap before he erupts, his whole body trembling and shuddering as he calls out my name.

  My orgasm is harder than any I’ve ever had before, and my entire body goes limp as the waves of pleasure roll through me. Braxton removes his hand from my throat and leans his forehead against my shoulder, his body shuddering, breathing as hard as if he’s just run a marathon.

  “That was amazing,” he groans.

  My head is spinning, and all I can do is nod my agreement. We cling to each other, wrapped in a bubble of sheer ecstasy. I feel like I’m filled with a bright, white-hot light that runs from the top of my head to the soles of my feet and sears my every nerve ending in between. Sex with Braxton is always good, but this feels like it was on a different level.

  Slowly, I slip off his lap and pull him down next to me. We adjust ourselves on the couch, so he’s lying behind me, his arm around my waist and my back pressed to his chest. I feel so comfortable and safe in his arms that I just want to stay here, like this, for the rest of the day. A smile on my face, I snuggle back against him, and Braxton wraps his arm around me tighter, holding me close.

  The feeling is as perfect as it is unexpect
ed. I mean, I think we’ve grown closer over these last few weeks than we’ve ever been before – speaking for myself, of course. I like to think Braxton feels the same way, but I can’t know what’s in his head for sure. We’ve spent almost every single evening together, but neither one of us has tried to define the nature of our relationship. In fact, we seem to be actively avoiding the word relationship – or any discussion of it – altogether. But talk about it or not, there doesn’t seem to be any question the bond we share is only growing stronger and deeper.

  I have no idea what that means for the future, but for now, we’re just going with it. I guess we’ll figure it all out when we need to. All I know is that right now; I feel closer to Braxton than I’ve ever felt to another human being in my life. It’s a feeling that both terrifies and absolutely exhilarates me all at the same time.

  We lay coupled together like that in silence for so long, I start to think he’s fallen asleep, so when he speaks, I give a start.

  “What happened with your father?” he asks softly. “How did you end up back in Vegas?”

  I let out a soft breath. He’s been patient with me and hasn’t pressed me on this issue too hard, even though I know he’s curious. And as this – whatever it is between us – goes on, I knew his curiosity is only going to grow. I don’t fault him for being curious. I mean, we’ve opened up and shared so many pieces of our lives with each other that it’s natural for him to want to know what I’m keeping locked behind this high, thick wall.

  A piece of me has been hoping he’d just forget about it and let it go. That his interest in it would wane. Maybe it was unrealistic of me to think he’d just forget about it since it’s such a big piece of my story. Since it’s the reason I’m here now. And maybe he deserves an answer.