by Alicia Rae
“God, I miss you,” I said truthfully.
“Me, too.”
“I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. Sleep tight,” I replied, letting her go, so I could catch some shut-eye before my early flight.
“Good night,” she said sweetly into the phone before I hung up.
“I’m Damon Johnson. I’m here to see Jonathan Reagan for an interview at three,” I explained to the receptionist at William Rawn Associates.
She smiled at me, checked her computer screen, and then met my gaze. “Mr. Reagan will be right with you, sir.” She gestured to the black chairs near the windows in the waiting room. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you,” I responded, giving her a friendly smile before following her directions.
While waiting, I repeatedly ran my work to-do list through my head in order to keep my nerves under control. I was still unable to believe that I was at my dream job, awaiting an interview with the largest architectural firm in the United States.
A tall, lanky man with fair skin and bright red hair emerged from two large double doors off to the left. I rose from my chair as he greeted me with a smile.
“You must be Damon Johnson?” he questioned, extending his hand to me. “I’m Jonathan Reagan. Welcome.”
“Yes, sir.” I shook his firm grip and matched it. “Great to finally meet you.”
“As you,” he responded and motioned me to the doors from where he’d come. “Please follow me, and we can get started.”
“Of course,” I replied, letting him lead the way as I trailed after him.
Walking into an impressive office, Jonathan motioned for me to sit at the front of his desk as he came around to the other side and sat down in his large black leather chair. I gazed over his mahogany wooden desk at him.
“So, Mr. Johnson, as you know, we’ve looked at your background work.”
I nodded.
He kept speaking, “And I must say, for someone of your years, you have an extensive and equally remarkable background.”
“Thank you, sir.” I smiled at his compliment, feeling proud of myself. I had worked hard for it. “Architecture has always been a passion of mine since a young age.”
“I see,” he deliberated. “You never considered any other career in that time?”
This was either a surprise to him or a test, so I answered, “No, sir.”
“That is excellent to hear.” Mr. Reagan smiled. Then, he placed his forearms on his wooden desk, setting one hand on top of the other, as though he were preparing to get down to business. “I’ll be up-front with you, Mr. Johnson. My business partners and I have already agreed you have an extraordinary talent, which is a top priority at William Rawn Associates.”
I nodded.
He continued, “Another significant factor is our staff and loyalty. Whether working directly here or from afar, we strive for all our architects to be able to work with one another as a team. Can you see yourself as that man?” he asked.
Man, he went right for the throat.
But he did say, “or from afar,” I mused inwardly.
I replied with the utmost honesty, “Yes, sir. I’m a dedicated hard worker, and with every single project I’ve helped design with my team, I’ve given it my all.”
“I’m very pleased to hear that.” Mr. Reagan nodded thoughtfully as another man walked into the room.
I rose from my chair and turned to see Mr. William Rawn himself. It took everything I had to keep my composure as my idol approached me.
His hair was jet-black, and his skin was so tan he looked like he’d just come back from an island or something. He was also much taller than I’d imagined in my mind.
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir,” I said to him, keeping my voice strong and even as I extended my hand to him.
“I assure you, the pleasure is mine,” Mr. Rawn said, shaking my hand. “I will be joining the rest of your interview. I take careful consideration to anyone who joins my staff. So, let’s get down to it, shall we?” he asked with a grin.
Mr. Rawn’s easygoingness put my nerves to rest, and I knew I had to show these two men what I was capable of.
For the next hour, Mr. Rawn and Mr. Reagan hammered me left and right with in-depth questions of my previous work. They even laid out mock architectural designs of buildings and tested my skills to see how I would do with various scenarios. It was downright the most intense yet exhilarating interview of my life.
By the end, I was confident I had nailed it. I left the office feeling exhilarated by the possibility of someday designing a building for their company and getting the chance to work with some of the top leading architects in the world.
But all this was riding on the key words Mr. Reagan had said in the beginning of our meeting—from afar.
It was out of my hands for the time being.
Now, it was time to go home to my girl.
~Gail~
Holy mother of cheese balls!
I was excited to finally see Damon tonight as I raced home from work. Three days away from him had been entirely three too many, and I missed him dearly—probably more than what was healthy. But I did not care.
I still had a couple of hours until he would be home, so I started cleaning like a maniac, wanting the apartment to be perfect when he finally came through the door. Then, we could just revel in one another’s company and relax.
I picked up my phone and ordered a pepperoni-and-sausage pizza for delivery in case Damon was hungry, which he always was.
The thought made me smile.
When the clock neared his expected arrival, I flew into my room, pulled out my new black lacy nighty I’d splurged on just for him, and quickly slipped into it.
I walked back into the living room as a key hit the lock. My heartbeat sped up with every passing millisecond, and my eyes watched the door as the knob slowly turned.
Damon walked in and shut the door behind him.
He was dressed in a classic pair of blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. He still managed to take my breath away. My gaze landed on his face, taking in the tired look in his eyes, which changed as he took in the sight of my apparel—or lack of it. His eyes raked over me and filled with longing, reflecting the way I felt inside.
Damon slightly bent forward at the waist and dropped his briefcase, causing a soft thump as it barely missed the tile and hit the carpet.
He closed the gap between us. “For three whole days…” He gripped my waist with one hand while the other came to my cheek, and he dragged his knuckles down my skin. Then, he caught the bottom of my chin, cupped it, and tipped my head back. “All I could think about was you,” he confessed.
A warm essence spread through me like wildfire, now knowing he felt the same as me. Maybe that meant I was not head-over-heels crazy after all.
I flung my arms around him, needing to feel him. “It was a long few days,” I agreed, overwhelmed from his touch already.
Needing no more words, he bent forward and kissed me, roughly and completely. He swept his tongue over mine as though he needed me to breathe.
Damon’s palm skimmed down the curve of my breast to my side. With both hands, he glided down to cup my ass with a firm grasp.
“I want nothing more than to take you into my bedroom and bury myself inside your beautiful, stunning body,” he broke off with a groan.
His expression looked torn, like he wanted to make love to me, but something was holding him back. He dipped his head and nuzzled his nose along my throat.
I caressed my hands up the length of his chest and then ran them over his shoulders. “Please do,” I spoke softly in agreement, confused as to why he was holding back.
His work must really be stressing him out, and I wanted to ease the tension seeping out of him.
Damon shook his head. “We need to talk first,” he said, still battling himself.
But I could feel his firm erection against my stomach that told me he wanted me, too, and that was all I needed to know.
“Tomorr
ow,” I said with finality. Nothing was more important than being with him. “Tonight, it’s just you and me,” I added before kissing him.
He seemed to break from his internal struggle because in the next instant, his mouth sought out mine with a keenness of passion that flared my own. His urgent tongue pushed past my lips, caressing along mine.
Desire and longing washed over me.
His hands came to my back and yanked on the clasp of my black nightie. A loud tear filled the silent room before he tossed it aside. I had never been so aroused by such forwardness, but the effect was strikingly hot.
“You didn’t like my nightie?” I asked teasingly.
His hands moved from my sides to my breasts, ravenously touching me everywhere. We definitely were not going to make it to the bedroom.
“Oh, I did,” he replied with a ridiculously sexy grin.
He backed me up until the underside of my knees bumped into the living room couch. A second loud rip reverberated through the room, and I was now without my thong.
“In fact, I fucking loved it a little too much because I want your body naked and trembling for me,” he breathed throatily. “Only me,” he added, effectively causing all my blood to rush straight to my sex and making it throb impatiently.
Damon took a step backward with his hooded gaze transfixed on me. Then, his hands moved to the hem of his shirt, and he flung it over his head before tossing it aside.
Relishing in my private striptease, I let out a whimper at the sight of him as my eyes soaked in the cut planes of his muscles and every rippled curve of his abs.
With a sly grin, he unfastened his jeans and shucked them off his legs. His erection sprang free to my greedy eyes. As he neared, I could not restrain my hands from reaching forward to grip his generous length. A deep rumble vibrated from his chest, further turning me on, as I began to glide my hands up and down his smoothness.
I bent at the waist to lick the tip of his plush head with my tongue, and I sealed my lips around him, taking him farther into my mouth. I felt the thickness of his vein when I pulled all the way up, hollowing my cheeks, as I gently pumped him with my hand.
By the third stroke, he murmured my name, as though a plea, and withdrew himself. He lowered to his knees while possessively gripping my hips and gently pushed me onto my back. Then, he set my legs on either side of his shoulders, revealing my sex to his gaze.
With one long, sweeping motion, he licked from my center all the way to my clit with meaningful movements. His touch left trails of sensation behind. My hands gripped his hair as my sex ached for more, pulsing with heaviness.
“Always so wet,” he said in a ragged breath. Need roughened his voice. “And tight,” he added, sinking two fingers inside me. “And so beautiful that you make my heart ache.”
I moaned softly, and my entire body shuddered, feeling strung tight at his confession.
Hot, urgent desire rippled through me as he lapped and teased my folds with his tongue while his fingers continued to plunge in and out of me.
My thighs began to shake uncontrollably. I squeezed them around his head, crying out, as my release crashed and rolled through me. Damon thrust his tongue into my sex at my peak, and light exploded behind my eyes as a second orgasm barreled through me. He placed soft kisses along my inner legs, up my stomach, and all the way to my sternum as I came down from my orgasmic haze.
Pure male satisfaction beamed on his face when he came within inches from mine. While staring directly into my eyes with a devilish, mouthwatering grin, he linked one of his hands with mine and lifted it above my head. He kissed and nibbled on my lips and then drew back. His bright blue eyes were so full of sincerity that they stripped me bare.
“God, I missed you,” he said in a hoarse yet gentle tone.
Before I could agree with his sentiment, he kissed me hot and hard. I melted into him, matching his fervor. Electricity shot from my core, undulating outward and strengthening with each passing one. His scent bathed my skin and overwhelmed my senses. I had never felt so taken.
Needing him inside me, I slipped my hand between us and gave him one fluid stroke before pressing the tip of his head directly over my center. Damon pushed forward, penetrating me with a single heady thrust, as he seated himself incredibly deep. His slow, measured movements rubbed and pulled against my tender tissues, creating a delicious friction with each pass.
I locked my ankles around his backside and rocked my hips into him, opening myself even more, so he could take me harder. His hands tightened around my sides as he tilted my pelvis and picked up the momentum. The rhythmic slap of our skin echoed in the room.
A heady rush built within my center, and I could not hold back any longer. I lowered my hand between our slick bodies and brushed it over my clit. Damon growled, watching me touch myself, and pounded in and out of me with wild abandon.
He carefully fell against me, capturing my mouth, as we both spiraled into our releases together, coming like never before.
The only noise for the next several minutes was our ragged breathing while we snuggled into each other on the couch, embracing in the afterglow.
Damon’s hand caressed my cheek, down my neck, and over my shoulder with a certain tenderness that made me wonder what could be troubling him so profoundly.
Nevertheless, fear kept me from asking him about his worries because I did not want to intrude on his privacy or ruin this blissful time with him. So, as my eyes began to feel heavy, I closed them while soaking in his warmth.
I awoke in the darkness to being lifted off the couch, and I had not a clue what time it was.
“Lock your arms around me, sweetheart,” Damon said, rising to his feet with me.
I did as he’d asked and lowered my head into the crook of his neck as I drifted in and out of slumber. I felt him lay me on the bed, and then the mattress dipped. He scooted over and tugged me close. I nestled my nose along his sternum and breathed him in.
He was my home.
“I love you,” I whispered sleepily, feeling for some reason that he needed to know right now before sleep pulled me back under.
The next time I awoke was to Damon’s cell phone ringing. I opened my eyes to see that it was already light outside.
I felt the bed shift as he rolled over and said, “Hello?”
I tried not to listen, feeling he needed his privacy, but he was literally right next to me.
“Today?” he asked. “That is kind of short notice.” He sighed, sounding exasperated and tired.
A bunch of mumbling followed as I tried to close my eyes and tune it out.
“No, no! I will be there to meet Mr. Eisner right away,” Damon replied, sitting up in the bed. “Could you please text me the address? Thanks, Dave. I owe you one,” he said and then set down his cell phone with a quiet thud.
Damon crawled back into bed and spooned me. I closed my eyes, feeling his fingers brush my wild morning hair off my cheek. He leaned over and kissed from the corner of my mouth to my ear.
“Mmm…” I said, loving his touch. “Please don’t tell me that your contractor is already trying to fly you away again, or I might have to hunt him down,” I teased, turning over to find Damon’s mouth.
He shook his head against my lips. “Not a chance in hell I’d let him do that, sweetheart.” He ran his fingers back and forth across my jaw, caressing it. “I do have to go to meet with someone for a few hours though, but I will be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay,” I agreed reluctantly. Then, I remembered I had things to do today, too. “I have to run to work anyway and let in a repairman to fix one of our machines that broke this past week. Then, I’m going to visit with Caroline this afternoon.”
“All right,” Damon said in between giving me more kisses, which I would never tire of. “Do you want me to meet you over at your parents’ house when I’m done?” he asked.
“Sounds like a plan, handsome.” I smiled up at him.
He grinned wolfishly. “I’m handsome,
huh?”
“Nah, that came out wrong. I meant to say fugly,” I teased, feeling frisky.
“Fugly?” Damon exclaimed, quirking his lip upward, making a slight dimple that looked adorably sexy on him. He grasped the blankets around his back and covered us with them. “Then, I’ll have to lock you in this bedroom until you’re reminded of how handsome I am,” he added.
He attacked me with more sweet kisses as I writhed beneath him.
As the repairman ripped apart our broken exercise equipment, I sat on an exercise bench and waited. I had all my paperwork and patient charts up-to-date, so all I could do was watch the guy.
My mind quickly wandered to last night and this morning with Damon in bed, reveling in the passionate embraces we had shared. I smiled, recalling the look in his eyes when he’d walked through the door last night and how we could not keep our hands off each other because we’d spent a mere three days apart. I’d leaned into him as he’d carried me off the couch to bed and pulled me close like he always did. He always had to have our bodies touching when we drifted off to sleep, and I loved it.
Then, what I’d said to him last night about loving him entered my mind like a fierce gust of wind. I gasped out loud and threw my hands over my mouth as I realized that part was definitely not a dream.
“What?” the repairman exclaimed while jumping to his feet. He looked over at me with a startled expression. “Are you okay?”
“No!” slipped out of my mouth. “I mean, yes!” I corrected, feeling utterly embarrassed by my outburst.
It was not like he wanted to know about my love life.
The guy grumbled under his breath and went back to his task at hand.
A second blow hit me as I realized I had no freaking idea if Damon had responded to my admission last night. Worse yet, I was pretty sure I’d fallen back asleep. I felt my cheeks heat and hives broke out across the planes of my chest. My gaze lowered to the red blotchiness.
Shit.
“Miss!” the repairman said, snapping me out of my funk. “I’m done!” He thrust a clipboard at me.
I stood up from my seat, realizing it must not have been the first time the guy tried to get my attention. “I’m so sorry!” I replied sincerely, feeling mortified yet again.