Perfect Protector

by Lauren Wood

  I knew then that Joseph had truly set this all up. He was going to pay later, he really was.

  By the end of the week, I realized that Joseph was right, and I was cursing him for it. It was a lot easier to not only make sure that I had every word on paper for later reference, but the distraction of a beautiful woman was not understood. Now, I understood that it was more powerful than I could have ever realized. She made me millions, and she didn’t even know it.

  “Why don’t we go out for some lunch, to celebrate a great week? We have one more meeting this afternoon, but it’s not till three and we have plenty of time.”

  She was a bit shocked and I had to see that I was acting differently. I couldn’t help it, not really. My eyes had been opened to many things in the past week and I knew that I had Ellie to thank for that. It wasn't just her sweet nature that made her so compelling. There was so much more to her and I could already feel the transformation coming over me. I was starting to open myself back up to the idea that maybe I could move on from this.

  “Sure, I just didn't think that you would want to do that. You usually like to keep business and pleasure separate. I have been paying attention the last couple of weeks. It’s been busy, but I’ve paid attention.”

  “Who said anything about pleasure? I was thinking that we could go over our notes before the last meeting.”

  Her face fell so quickly that I was almost immediately regretful of saying anything. Would it have been so bad to have had a nice lunch with her? It would have been a pleasure, I'm sure of it. I just don't understand why I had said that. I was putting my foot in my mouth more than once and that was rather surprising. I had never been that way before. A lot of things had changed in the last week with Joseph gone and the major difference was Ellie.

  “I didn't mean it like that. I just meant...”

  “I'm just messing with you.”

  “Okay, I didn't know if you were or not. You’re usually pretty serious.”

  I guess I do come across that way, but I didn't want to anymore. I wanted to be more open. I wanted a lot of things to be different, I just didn't know how to make it happen. It was so much easier before, when I wasn't feeling emotions, but as I have felt them trickle in, I knew that this was right. Even if I didn't know what ‘this’ was.

  “It's just part of the job. When I first started the company, it was pretty small and we were all friends. That did not last very long, and I learned from my mistakes. I started to distance myself from my employees and it has helped save me from a lot of positions I didn't want to be in.”

  “Of course, Sir.”

  I felt like there was still a disconnect between us that I didn't like. I had been painstakingly distant for the last week because of the way she made me feel, but also because it was just easier. I had pulled myself away from not just her, but everybody else as well. I had built these walls that nobody could climb and in a way, I thought I was protecting myself. I had picked up a lot of quirks the last couple of years, trying to protect myself from the inevitable. From feelings. Now I was starting to understand how unrealistic that was. I certainly couldn't go out that way. Not anymore.

  When we got to the restaurant, she said something about not being dressed properly.

  “I assure you that they won't say anything to you, Ellie.”

  “Of course they won't. I'm just going to stick out. You don't know how much I don't fit in with this crowd.”

  “I have noticed Ellie, and I think that is why I enjoy your company so much. You’re unlike anyone that I have met around here. Hartford is full of good people, but they are one certain sort of way. It is probably their cutthroat nature that has brought them to the stage of life that they are in. I've always tried to make all of my business deals beneficial, but I find myself falling into that pattern as well. You are a breath of fresh air I truly needed.”

  Ellie had turned a little pink-cheeked and I knew that it was from embarrassment. Obviously, people did not speak to her as she deserved. If they had, she would not have been so surprised by my words. It made me wonder more about my new assistant.

  I asked her some questions during appetizers, and I was glad for the long lunch hour that was available to us. It turned into closer to two hours and I learned a lot about Ellie. She asked some of the same questions I asked myself, but it was then that I tried to wrap up lunch, so that we could get to the meeting. We had time, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to tell my side of things.

  11

  Ellie

  The last meeting was a doozy and it was almost nine o'clock at night before we left the conference room. I had been in there so long that I could tell you exactly how many glass blocks there were in the wall, as well as many other finite details that nobody else should know. It had been several hours and it certainly felt like it.

  Even though I didn't understand a lot of it, I could tell that it had ended how Harvey wanted it to go. He was the type of man that was used to getting his way. It was written all over his face. When he said something, he meant for it to be done. I found that strangely attractive, to see him in action and the whole day was full of him showing off his knowledge and power. It was a bit of a turn-on, compounded with what I had seen before. My mind was a wreck and I didn’t even want to be in the middle of it at this time.

  “So, dinner?”

  “You don’t have to, Harvey. It’s late. I can grab something at the house.”

  He told me that it wouldn’t do. I didn’t think I had anything to heat up, but I would make do. Chauncey was there with Anna, so I could get something to eat. Looking over at Harvey, I knew right away that I certainly wanted to.

  “I insist. You don’t have to run home right away, do you?”

  “My daughter is staying with my cousin, who’s in town.”

  Another strange look and then he looked out the window. Something was bothering him. Something looked like it was always bothering Harvey. He had the saddest eyes, and I had no idea what it was about. It was hard for me to ask him what was going on. It really was. All I knew for certain was I didn’t have a real good excuse to say no. I didn’t want to say no. I liked his company and wanted to be in it a little while longer.

  “Yes, I am sorry. It slipped my mind for a moment.”

  “You seem to get upset when I talk about her, so I try not to bring her up.”

  “I do?”

  He looked surprised, then went back to contemplation. “Yes, I suppose that it would seem that way. I don’t mean to make you feel like you can’t talk about your daughter. I assure you that it is not my intention at all.”

  “Then what is your intention?”

  “I have none. It’s just a hard subject for me and I thought that I had moved past the point of it bothering me so much. I suppose that I haven’t.”

  He was deep in thought and his dark eyes were leveled at the ground. I wanted to touch his face, turn it towards me, so that we could really talk, but I decided against it. I didn’t know him that well. He was my boss. There were so many reasons not to.

  The car stopped in front of a restaurant and we didn’t say much, as we went in and got a table. The silence extended till we ordered drinks, the waitress had brought them back and we were waiting on the food to be cooked. Harvey was off in his own world and I was afraid to ask him what was going on. I think part of that was because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to deal with the answer.

  “I used to be married, and we were about to have a child, when my wife was hit head on by another driver. Both died and ever since then, families, children in particular, really bother me.”

  “But you go to the orphanage every Saturday?”

  “That was my way of giving back, as well as working through some of it. I don’t know. I wanted to be around kids, so I made myself. It made it easier to deny myself that sadness.”

  I don’t know why, but I felt sadder for him than before. He was trying so hard not to let something affect him, when it had obviously changed t
he course of his life, in a very big way.

  My hand went to his and he didn’t pull it back. I rubbed the back of it, feeling the rougher skin and the difference in texture. I don’t know why, but trying to console him, was having a similar effect on myself. Before I knew what I was doing, I was leaning forward and pressing my lips against his. I wanted to comfort him, that’s the excuse I would use with myself later, but it turned into something else altogether. Problem was, I don’t know who changed the game. I just realized that the tongue in my mouth was now dancing with mine and I heard a soft whimper. It took me a minute to realize that it was coming from between my own two lips.

  Everything fell away and all I could think and feel was Harvey. My heart was reacting to his touch and I was almost pulled onto the table by his ferocity. I really don’t know what happened, but the waitress saved the day and me from embarrassing myself any further. I was already on top of the table practically, letting this man suck my soul from my body.

  I wiped my mouth and sat back in the seat. It was a stunning situation and I wasn’t sure what to say. I couldn’t even look at him. Maybe I was afraid of what I would see. Lust, desire, everything that I was feeling. Or maybe, I was worried about doing the same thing again. I wanted him to kiss me and we had just been served. It wasn’t the right time. How had comfort for him and his sad story turned into this?

  We ate in silence and it was mainly my fault. He tried to get the conversation going again, but I couldn’t do it. My mind was elsewhere and when he asked me what was wrong, I told him that I was tired.

  “Bull. I don’t believe you for a second.”

  “What? I am tired.”

  “Yes, but there is something else going on.”

  “The kiss, it was a bit intense.”

  He smiled and I knew that I wasn’t the only one still thinking about it. His grin made me wonder how it was all going to go down. I wanted to think that we could stay professional, but not after that kiss. It felt like it changed everything, for me anyways.

  “Yes, it was. I want to kiss you again.”

  I shut my mouth and looked down at my plate. The food was really good, but I couldn’t be bothered. All I could do was try to get through it.

  “Do you not like it?”

  “It’s good.”

  “No appetite?”

  “Not for food.”

  Finally, I looked up at him and I saw everything that I knew I would. It was hard for me to fathom doing it, but I gathered up my clutch and asked him if he was finished. I was done beating around the bush. I wanted him. He wanted me. Why did it have to be more complicated than that? I didn’t want it to be.

  Harvey was up quickly, throwing money on the table and taking my hand, to walk me outside. There was a neediness in the speed that he walked and once we got into the car, he told the driver an address close to where I lived, and I knew that we were going back to his place. I also knew what was going to happen when we got there, and I was anticipating it immensely. My body needed this. It had been so long, too long and for once, I was going to do something for just me.

  12

  Harvey

  Ernest was judging me from the front seat. I could see when I looked up and caught his eyes in the rearview mirror, but I wasn’t going to let it bother me. I couldn’t. I needed to focus, and Ellie was willing, so I was going to make it happen. I hadn’t wanted anyone that badly in a while.

  Her lips were soft, as I smashed mine against hers. It wasn’t far to get to my house, but it felt like it. By the time the ten-minute ride was over, I had my hands up her skirt, teasing at her thighs and she was breathing hard. We hadn’t spoken since we got in the car and that didn’t change.

  I realized that we were back at my place, so I opened the door and pulled her out with me. Ellie’s eyes barely opened. She didn’t need to see because I was pulling her right along with me. I had something come over me, had been happening since I met her and now, I had to finish it. I was sure if I could finally get my hands on her, I would be able to get over this draw that she had on me.

  The more I kissed her though, taking her into the house, the more I realized that maybe that wasn’t going to be the case at all. Every kiss and moan made me want to make her call out louder and touch a new spot on her body. She was my mystery and I was going to drive myself insane if I didn’t see, touch and lick every last inch of her.

  The feeling that I thought I would have, the boredom seeping in like it did with every other facet of my life, didn’t happen. I waited for it, but it didn’t come. Instead, I was just filled with more need.

  I pulled her shirt off and took in the view. She had these tiny freckles that were on her chest and I then had to pull her bra off, to see where all of the tantalizing spots had gone. I wanted to know where each and every one of them were on her body. Then I wanted to kiss them all.

  When I started, she giggled and then as I moved closer to the dusky tips that stood out, begging for attention, her sounds intensified. She wanted me badly and her whole body was writhing underneath me. I wasn’t even to the good parts yet.

  Once I got to the rosy tips, I took one into my mouth and I heard her moan loudly. It was the first time that I had to stop myself. A need was running over me that I couldn’t control and as much as I wanted to hold it in, I wasn’t able to.

  I wasn’t as delicate with her bottoms. I heard them rip as I pulled on them a little too hard. I just needed to have a taste of her. I could tell that she was wet, soaking if I didn’t know any better. That’s all I could think about as I pulled her clothes away.

  Ellie’s slim thighs opened up like a prize and her blue eyes pulled me in. I wanted to look away, but just like the first time I saw her, I wasn’t able to stop myself. I just wanted to be closer to her. I needed to be so much closer and she finally just pulled me down for a kiss.

  My hips bypassed her desires, but Ellie moved and fidgeted around, until we were lined up perfectly. There was nothing that I could do about it, nothing at all and I was dying to be inside of her. I could feel the heat and the dampness that was left behind on my pants. But there was still clothing between us and I wasn’t able to slide in like I wanted to. I growled at her and sat back for a moment, pulling off my shirt and then the pants that were suffocating the life out of me.

  Once I moved back on top of her, we both stopped for a moment. I still had my boxers on, but after rubbing against her a few times, just getting a feel for her and letting her know what was going to happen next, I pulled my boxers down, one of the times that I was moving my hips and thrusting against her. Now when I pressed in, I went in between her lips and then her thighs. Her eyes opened for that and I could see that she was surprised.

  “Isn’t this what you want?”

  Ellie nodded, but I wanted to hear her voice. I knew more than anything I wanted to hear her call out my name. The sound of it coming off of her lips, rolling off of her tongue, was enough to drive me crazy. I wanted to hear it now.

  “Tell me, or I will stop, Ellie. I’m your boss. I need to make sure.”

  That got a whimper out of her and her eyes met mine.

  “I need you inside of me, boss. Make me yours.”

  That did it for me. It could have been her sweet voice, saying such naughty things, but truthfully, I just thought that it was the use of the word boss. It was working and I surged deep, making her call out in reaction.

  It was just what I needed and even though I was dying from the suffocating folds that I found myself in, I couldn’t bring myself to pull out. Ellie was throbbing around me and it was enough to make me grit my own teeth. I didn’t have to move. She was doing it all for me, then she got close to coming and trying to get away, set her off. It was just what I needed to feel.

  “Damn it, Ellie. Stop moving.”

  She moaned and did not heed my advice. Instead, she clenched me hard and I pushed in deeper. It was just the reaction of her tightness and it made her whine again. I was trying to get myself right, but
it looked like she was trying to do the same thing herself. I couldn’t blame her for it being so hard to accomplish. It was hard on me as well.

  She wasn’t going to stop moving, that was becoming clear, and as much as I wanted to believe that I could handle it, I could not. I was merely focused on getting her off once or twice, before I lost it. That was all there was to do at this juncture.

  Sliding out slowly, I pushed back in quickly. She gasped and the sound made me want to do it again. I couldn’t help myself, not really. The way she sounded, made me know that I wasn’t going to be able to stop, ever. Whatever this hold was, it wasn’t dissipating. Instead, it was getting stronger and making me a little nervous.

  Ellie called out as her insides started to choke me out again. I slid in and out quickly, riding her through her first orgasm, and quickly bringing my own to fruition. She just felt that good, that I knew there was nothing more that I could do.

  Ellie was hanging on tight, about to come again, when I beat her to it. The shaking, deep thrust, got her ready for all of it and she pushed off the deep end with me. Calling out my name, nails digging into my back. The sights, sounds, feelings, satisfied me like nothing I had quite experienced before.

  I leaned down and kissed her slowly. I was still inside of her, feeling my cock throb and her insides quiver. Her lips were less responsive, but I knew that it was because she was trying to process everything going on. I slid deeper as she tried to move, pinning her where she laid. I didn’t want to lose her, not even for a second.

  Finally, I had to get off of her, and Ellie was staring up at the ceiling. I didn’t know if that was a good sign or not. I wanted to believe that it was, but I had no idea of the validity of that. Why was I so worried about it? Why was I letting it get into my head? I don’t know what was going on with me, but I knew that it was all because of the woman next to me.