Fulfillment

by Golland, K. M.

  I sat there stunned for God knows how long then moved my gaze to Jessica. She was staring at the elevator doors, smiling fondly. I’m guessing her fondness was for the man who just angrily left the room. It pissed me off even more. Get that look off your face now before I hop over there and wipe it off.

  I’d had just about enough.

  “I’m so proud of him,” she said in awe. What?

  I didn’t answer, but she continued to talk.

  “He has come so far since the death of his parents and his brother. At one point I thought I would never again see the bright, intelligent, young man my best friend gave birth to and raised.” She turned to me and smiled. Best friend?

  “Stephanie adored Bryce. She was always doting over him. He was her pride and joy. She loved all three of her kids equally, but Bryce had a special connection with his mother.”

  I was speechless, so I sat there and continued to listen.

  “Stephanie and I went to college together. She was a Social Sciences graduate and her philosophy on life was truly unique. We hit it off instantly. After she married Lindsay and gave birth to Bryce, her priorities in life changed, but her outlook never did. She was a fantastic mother, and Bryce was a real mummy’s boy.”

  I smiled. Yeah, I can actually imagine that.

  “She brought Bryce up to be passionate, outgoing, ambitious, and charming. All the qualities a young man would require to go far in life; she was so proud of him. But when she died, something in Bryce died too. His passion diminished, he was no longer outgoing, his ambition turned to determination, and his charm faded considerably,” she said sadly as she stood up.

  She walked across to the grand piano and ran her finger along it. “Has he played the piano for you?”

  “No, I’ve never seen him go near it. He has always played the guitar for me.”

  She raised her eyebrows at me, knowingly. “He’s very good, isn’t he? This might break doctor-patient confidentiality, but he did just say ‘do what you have to, I don’t fucking care what it takes’, didn’t he?”

  “He did,” I agreed.

  “Well, he loves that you love watching him play the guitar. When he told me about the first time he played for you, he was beyond happy, he was boasting.” Oh! My! God! He told her about that. I’ll kill him.

  I blushed.

  “Oh, don’t worry. He didn’t give me the details.” Thank fuck. “Alexis, Bryce has come a long way over the years. But it wasn’t until he met you that he got that spark back. Whatever had died in him, you managed to resurrect. I have never seen a person so devoted, so in awe, so in love before. At first I thought it might be unhealthy, but over the past eight months I’ve come to realise that he absolutely adores you and wants nothing more than your happiness.”

  Tears began to fall down my cheeks. “I know,” I admitted.

  “If you’re not happy, he is not happy.”

  “I know, I feel the same way.” I was sobbing again.

  She came back to the couch and sat next to me, handing me a tissue.

  “He is absolutely terrified of losing you. Not just physically but mentally. He knows what it feels like to lose someone both physically and mentally.”

  I looked up at her. “Gareth?” I whispered.

  “Yes, Gareth,” she confirmed. “Alexis, please let me help you get through this. I want to help you, not only for Bryce but for you. I have a deep respect for the woman who tamed Mr. Bryce Clark.”

  I stared at her wide-eyed. “Okay.”

  Dr Carrot-top Jessica was not all that bad after all.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Nate and Charlotte FaceTimed me the following day, and I had missed them terribly, only having briefly talked to them on the phone a couple of times since seeing them. I desperately wanted them to come home, but I had to gain a good frame of mind before I let them see me, and before I explained to them what had happened to me over a week ago. The good thing was, I had a positive outlook now and truly believed Jessica would help me get to the good frame of mind that I needed. It had felt nice talking with her and I looked forward to talking to her again. We had arranged to meet every day for the coming week, and I felt terrible that I had made the wrong assumption about her. A book’s cover did not always reflect its contents.

  ***

  Bryce and I had made up when he returned after his false-imprisonment ploy. He had been right in doing it though, and he had the best intentions, so I could not stay mad at him. We were starting to get on each other’s nerves, however, and we would deliberately bait each other over the smallest things. I was starting to think it had more to do with sexual frustration than anything else.

  One of the things I had been doing that was getting on his nerves was trying to scratch underneath my cast. It was so God damned itchy, and I couldn’t wait until the following Monday to have the cast removed and the moon boot fitted. In the meantime though, I desperately had to relieve the horrid irritating sensation on my leg, and I was doing it by using all means possible. This was pissing Bryce off, and the fact that he was trying to stop me from doing it was pissing me off.

  I woke up Tuesday morning fidgeting, trying to scratch a really deep spot down near my ankle which was practically impossible to reach.

  “Alexis, for fuck’s sake, stop scratching,” he groaned into his pillow.

  “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t have a tube of fucking plaster attached to your leg irritating the shit out of you.” I stuck my finger back down into the cast, but it fell way short of the spot.”

  “You have been tossing and turning all night,” he growled.

  “I know. I’m the one who has been doing the tossing and the turning.”

  I got out of bed, hopped to the bathroom and opened the vanity cupboard. Excellent. I grabbed Bryce’s comb and wedged it down into my cast, relieving the annoying tingling.

  “Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about,” I purred with relief.

  “What are you doing?” he called out from the bedroom.

  “Nothing, mind your own business,” I called back, smiling and lapping up the respite by happily pulling the comb up and down my leg.

  “Hunny, stop that.” He had gotten out of bed and was standing in the door way. “The surgeon said not to poke things down into your cast.”

  “No! I don’t care what the friggin’ surgeon said. He is a hypocrite. He put this stupid, heavy, irritating, ugly piece of shit on my leg. He does not get to tell me not to itch.” I scratched a little more, desperately trying to push the comb in deeper.

  “Alexis, give me that. Hang on a minute, is that my comb?” he questioned, with eyebrows raised.

  “Yes, it is.”

  He put his hand out.

  I yanked the comb back out and threw it at his chest. “I hate you.”

  He laughed. “No, you don’t.”

  I hopped past him. “Right now? Yes, yes, I do.”

  ***

  Bryce and I had been working sporadically over the past week. He’d told me that I didn’t need to, and that Abigail and Lucy were sharing my work load. It’s just, I wanted to work. It helped stop my mind from reverting back to the events of the accident. I still couldn’t stop the flashbacks, and Jessica was still working on methods to help me with it.

  She had helped me immensely throughout the week, having a covert talent in making me open up to her completely, which was obviously a good thing. I was functioning again, thinking clearly and not diverting off my path to recovery—well...not as much—I still had moments of self-defeat. Now, that I was back at work—sporadically or not—I enjoyed the distraction, but I kind of felt useless, a hindrance; a burden even.

  Ever since I had taken on the role of P.A for Bryce, I had brought nothing but dramas to the job. Most of it was, in part, a result of his introduction into my life, but regardless, I still felt someone else could do my job better than me. I didn’t want to disrupt his business life like I had disrupted his personal life.

  Jess
ica had told me to tell Bryce everything I was feeling when I was feeling it. I had also told myself this before having my talk with Jessica, but I guess her being a professional and instructing me to do it kind of pushed the thought into an action.

  I hit the button on my phone and buzzed Bryce in his office.

  “Yeah?” he answered in his sexy, I’m-a-busy-billionaire-businessman voice.

  “I think you should replace me,” I said quite frankly.

  “Excuse me?” he replied, uncertainty in his tone.

  “I suck, and I’m a nuisance. There are plenty of other women who are better than me,” I explained.

  “Alexis, can you come in here for a moment, please,” he said softly, but still all businessman like.

  “No. I can’t.”

  “Alexis!”

  “Bryce! I quit.” There, I said it. That wasn’t too hard now, was it?

  His door opened all of a sudden and he walked out into the foyer.

  “You wanna talk?” he asked.

  I shook my head.

  “You want me to talk?”

  I shook my head again.

  “You want me to come over there, pick you up, carry you upstairs and spank your sexy arse?” he said, quite casually.

  I thought about it. Hmmm, actually yes, that does sound like a good idea.

  He noticed my pause and made his way to my desk.

  “No,” I said quickly, with apprehension and playfulness in my voice. Shit! Too late.

  I grabbed hold of my desk just in time, as he bent down and put his arms gently behind my back and under my legs.

  “Let go,” he demanded, a look of dominance and desire in his eyes.

  I bit my lip and shook my head quickly, feeling my control dwindle.

  “If you don’t let go of this desk now, I will pick it up, or drag it along with us,” he breathed in my ear. “Your choice.”

  I believed him, so I let go.

  He lifted me up and carried me directly to the elevator.

  “Are you really going to spank me?” I asked curiously as we ascended.

  “Do you want me to?”

  “Maybe. Do you think I deserve it?” I raised my eyebrow at him.

  “Oh, yes. I found one of my drum sticks wedged in your cast last night after you fell asleep on the sofa, so you definitely deserve it.” Oh shit! Remember to hide the evidence, Alexis, you fool.

  “Damn it,” I admitted.

  He carried me to the bedroom and placed me down on the bed, then very carefully climbed on top of me, holding his weight and securing my hands above my head.

  “You are not quitting. You are not a nuisance and you do not suc—” He cut himself off. “Well you do suck, but in a very, very good way.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  “So, tell me what’s going on in that head of yours or I will either call Jessica, or spank it out of you.” He leaned forward and kissed my neck. Oh, God that feels good. How long has it been since we’ve made love? Fuck, I can’t remember. “Well?” he said, waiting for me to divulge.

  I moaned a little. “I’m a walking disaster,” I breathed out.

  He dragged his tongue down my neck and kissed my collar bone, my chest rising to meet his lips.

  “No, you’re a limping miracle,” he said with a husky voice as he made his way back up my neck to my ear lobe.

  I clenched his hands in mine and moaned again. “I’m hopeless.”

  He released one of my hands and placed it on the outside of his pants so that I could feel his hard cock. “Clearly you are not, Hunny.” Mmmm, clearly you are a God, Bryce.

  I had the sudden urge to have his delicious erection in my mouth. I needed to feel him, taste him. I needed to feel I was in control of at least something. I knew I had nothing but control when my lips were around his cock. I could control his orgasm, his relief, and the feeling I now had at the thought of what I was about to do filled me with a sense of value.

  “I suck,” I exclaimed, as I tried to lift my head from the pillow to meet his.

  He leaned back, refusing my request for his mouth. “No, you don’t.”

  “No, I do and I want to suck right now.”

  His eyes changed within a second from endearing and heavy, to hot, hankering and alive with expectation.

  Dropping his head to mine, he finally allowed my tongue to find his, kissing me passionately.

  “Are you sure, my love? We can wait longer if you want.”

  I pushed him off so that he rolled onto his back, lying next to me.

  “Yes, I’m sure. I want you in my mouth. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

  Positioning myself onto my side and making sure my ankle was comfortable, I undid his pants and unleashed his hard cock into my hand. Just the sight of it so gloriously close made me smile.

  I cupped his balls then dragged my hand from the base to the tip, licking my finger and swirling it over his crown.

  “Fuck!” he groaned.

  I gave him a salacious grin before I wrapped my mouth around him, taking in as much as I could and gently clamping my teeth down. I could feel his soft warm skin beneath them, he felt and tasted so good; I couldn’t get enough.

  He placed his hand on my head, gently clenching his fingers in my hair. “So good, Hunny,” he slurred.

  My smile at his enjoyment and praise circled his shaft and I began to escalate my movement over him, repeating the consumption of his length over and over.

  He moaned and growled explicit words which made me feel hot and empowered, helping me take charge even more and forcing the taste of his enjoyment into my mouth. I dragged my tongue up and down, flicking the spots I knew were sensitive to him. He bucked his hips and pushed himself further into my mouth, and I accepted his offering by sucking him deep.

  “Fuck, I love you,” he hissed as he reached his climax, jerking into me.

  I lapped him up and savoured the moment of being once again in control of a part of my life that I enjoyed. A part he obviously enjoyed, too.

  ***

  Shortly after I literally blew Bryce’s mind—and after he also spanked my arse for quitting—we had a visitor. The joy and sense of self I had felt after sharing an intimate moment with Bryce had not lasted long, it ending abruptly when Gareth entered the apartment.

  “I just wanted to personally come by and offer my condolences to you both. I heard about the fall and subsequent miscarriage and broken foot. I’m terribly sorry. I also wanted to apologise for skipping out on your birthday party. I felt very ill quite suddenly and needed to lie down.”

  He had not long entered the room and sat down on the couch opposite me, before I felt my chest rise and fall dramatically, the heat in the room also rising rather quickly.

  Bryce had made his way over to the bar to fetch us all a drink.

  “I need something strong,” I said as I locked eyes with Gareth, desperately trying to calm myself.

  “Do you want a gin then?” Bryce asked.

  I removed my stare from Gareth, switching it toward Bryce while wiping my sweaty hands on my pants. “Yes, gin is great,” I replied rather quickly.

  “So Alexis, how are you feeling?” Gareth asked.

  “Fucking awful,” I honestly replied. “How do you expect to me feel?” My tone was defensive and angry, I couldn’t help it.

  Bryce sat down next to me and handed me my drink, a worried and curious look on his face. “Here.” He placed his arm around my neck and rested his hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m sorry, Alexis. I didn’t mean to sound insensitive.”

  Gareth leaned forward and placed his drink on the coffee table when I caught a hint of his aftershave. It washed over my senses and triggered my visions and flashbacks to return. I saw myself hopping along the walkway like I’d seen in my head time and time again, only this time I smelled Gareth’s aftershave as I took my first step. It was a deep woody, earth-like aroma. I didn’t like it. In fact, I hated it; it made me nauseated.

  “Al
exis! Alexis, hey are you alright?” Bryce was lightly shaking my shoulder with his hand in an attempt to get my attention.

  I looked at him, then to Gareth. My breathing spiked and I could feel my body temperature rising. I turned back to Bryce and shook my head at him.

  The last thing I remember is Bryce leaning forward to put his drink down and saying, “Shit! Not again.”

  ***

  This time when I came round, I noticed that Bryce had swivelled me to a lying position and propped my legs high on the edge of the sofa. The second thing I noticed is that my blouse was drenched and smelled of gin, and the third thing I noticed was Gareth standing next to Bryce—rather close—and that Bryce was on the phone.

  “Yes, Janette, she’s coming round now, her eyes just opened.” He smiled warmly at me. “No, I’ll call Jessica. You stay where you are and sort out your incident. Thanks for your help. I’m thinking I will have to give you a raise in salary very soon.” He chuckled back at her response and then hung up the phone, dialling Jessica instantly.

  “Hi, Jessica. Alexis has had another panic attack and again she passed out.” He walked over to the sofa and knelt down beside me. “No. No, she’s been fine other than that.” He picked up my hand and kissed the top of it quickly. “Yes, please. I’d appreciate it. Thanks, I’ll see you soon.”

  I noticed Gareth fidget from the corner of my eye.

  “Jessica is on her way, Hunny. How do you feel now?”

  “Okay, I guess. I’m a bit soggy, but I’m okay.”

  “I’ll get you another top.” He went to get up.

  I grabbed his arm. “No, don’t leave me,” I begged, while glancing at Gareth.

  “Okay, I won’t leav—”

  Gareth butted in. “I gotta go, got a lot of work to do. I’m glad you’re alright, Alexis.” He nodded at Bryce then hastily left the room.

  ***

  I had moved out to the balcony to get some air when Jessica arrived. She followed Bryce out and stood next to me at the balustrade. I had rugged myself up in a thick coat and Jessica—thank goodness—had done the same.