Love Me Like I Love You
Page 16
I take a moment to look at her tight ass and cup her pussy. She’s so hot and wet. So ready for me. She’s always ready for me.
Bracing a hand on the wall next to her, I push my dick between her folds, feeling her tight walls wrapping around my dick and pulling me in. Fuck. She feels like heaven. As I let my forehead fall to the back of her neck, groaning from how good she feels, her hand splays on top of mine and then grips me. I have to open my eyes and pull back to kiss her. But I’m struck by the expression on her face. It's a look of utter rapture.
I move slowly, deeper, filling her inch by inch. And the deeper I go, the more her lips part until they make a perfect “O” when I’m buried deep inside of her.
This is how she should always be. Lost in pleasure.
I don’t waste any time. We’ve already been gone too long for our absence to go unnoticed. I pull back slightly, just a few inches and then fuck her pussy so hard and rough that she cries out.
I’m quick to silence her, turning her head to me and pressing my lips to hers. I pull back, but leave my face close to hers, our warm breath combining and heating with the intensity I feel between us.
She moans my name as her head thrashes.
I slam my dick into her, all the way to the hilt, feeling her lush ass jiggle as I pump my hips over and over again. My breathing comes in frantically as I feel her tighten around my length. Yes! Come for me again. I need to feel her get off and watch her as she’s consumed with pleasure.
Leaning in closer to her, I whisper in her ear, “Give it to me,” and thrust into her again. Her body jolts against the wall as her face scrunches and her mouth parts with a small gasp. “Come for me,” I breathe against her slender neck, her body shuddering with a chill and then I bury myself deep inside of her.
Her eyes open as her pussy flutters and her fingernails dig into my hand. She lets out a silent scream, her head falling back against my shoulder as her orgasm rips through her.
It’s all I needed. I race for my own release, pistoning my hips and riding through her pleasure. A rough groan low in my throat leaves me as I pound into her tight pussy over and over until a wave of pleasure rocks through me, curling my toes and leaving me out of breath. My dick pulses as I shove myself as deep as I can inside of her, nearly picking her up off the floor.
She whimpers, and I open my eyes as thick spurts of cum fill her, but there’s only pleasure on her face.
I want to keep her, so I’ll give her what she wants. Something to tie her to me. She never told me what she wanted from this drunken deal. But I can give her something I know she’s after.
A baby.
Grace
It’s quiet in the area at work as I sit by myself, my head in the clouds. I’m peeling a tangerine, but not really paying any attention to it.
My mind is on Charlie. More specifically, on the deal we had. I fulfilled my end, playing Charlie’s pretty girlfriend. And Charlie…
Well, let’s just say that his end of the bargain was met when he made me orgasm three times in a row. A blush hits my cheeks just thinking about it. That man does things to me. I’ve completely fallen for him. Even though I know I shouldn’t have, I can’t bring myself to regret it.
A piece of the tangerine finds its way into my mouth as I stare absently at some poster on the wall.
So I guess that since we've both held up our ends of the bargain, it’s over even though he did ask me to stay a little longer for appearances. I don’t want to play games anymore, and that’s all this is to him. It’s fun and a good time. I agree with all that. But if that’s all this is, I need to salvage what’s left of my heart.
Showing up at the bar, waiting for him to call it quits is just torture. He’s just stringing me along. I sit back and sigh. I don’t want it to be over. I want anything but that, really. I want a commitment. I want more with him.
And that’s my fault.
Facing him and asking for more is only going to leave me alone and brokenhearted even sooner. So my choices are:
Rip that band aid off, asking for more and having him end it like I know he will.
I can play along for a little while, but that only makes me more pathetic and it’s only going to hurt that much worse.
As I stand up, rolling my eyes, I throw the peel of the tangerine in the trash and shove each section in one by one.
Sarah, my immediate boss, sticks her head in the break room. She’s redheaded like me and big-boned, but she always dresses like she’s on an Italian runway. In short, she’s gorgeous. Today she’s wearing a black boat neck dress that looks like it cost a million dollars from the way it flatters her frame.
“Hey, Grace.” She’s cheery as always as she steps into the room.
“Hey,” I greet her with a forced smile. I shouldn’t feel bad for my afternoon break, everyone takes them. Still, I feel the need to defend myself. “I’m just on my way back to work.”
“Do you have a minute? Jack and I would like to talk to you in his office.”
I stare at her. Jack Holt is one of the partners at our firm. I’ve literally only talked to him at Christmas, when he’s handing out holiday bonus checks. My heartbeat picks up with anxiety at the thought of having a meeting with him.
I rack my brain to figure out what he could possibly want to talk to me about. A new project? But no, he isn’t usually involved on that level.
This is looking really, really bad. I swallow the lump in my throat, searching Sarah’s face for a clue, but there’s nothing there.
“Uhh… sure.” My forced smile falls but I do my best to keep it in place.
“It’s nothing bad. Stop looking like I’m taking you to see the grim reaper,” Sarah jokes and I laugh in return but only because it’s obligatory. “Come on.”
Does being fired count as bad? I wonder, trying to calm down. The last of my tangerine gets tossed in the trash and I follow Sarah across the main room where everybody works. Unlike me, most of the employees don’t put their heads down while they work, so a few eyes follow me across the room. I glimpse Diane trying to make eye contact with me, but I avoid it. I haven’t talked to her since the wedding… which she didn’t attend.
Sarah leads me to a corner office, where she pauses to knock on the door. I fidget, wiping my hands off on my shirt and trying to stay calm. Sarah wouldn’t lie to me.
“Come in,” Jack calls through the door and we enter, my legs feeling like jello. Sarah shuts the door behind me, increasing my paranoia that I’m about to be fired.
“Grace, hi,” Jack says, standing up from behind his large espresso desk that’s littered with paperwork. He’s in his fifties, well dressed, and tanned as a nut from long days on his yacht. “Please sit,” he gestures to one of two chairs in front of his desk.
I glance at Sarah and pick a chair. Sarah sits in the other one, crossing her legs and smiling. Jack settles himself back behind his desk, looking serious.
My heart thumps wildly. I’ve never been fired before. My hands are clammy and I try to think of something to say, but I don’t trust my voice.
“So Grace, I asked Sarah to recommend someone to run the project desk, keep the designers on task and make sure what they produce is in line with the clients’ branding. She recommended you.”
Blinking several times, all of them a little too fast, I stare at my boss for a second, processing his words, then look at Sarah. “She did?”
“Apparently you… let’s see here,” he says, picking up a piece of paper off his desk. He starts to read. “Quote - She works ten times harder than anyone else. If everyone was as dedicated to customer satisfaction and producing great artwork, we would be far more successful. You seem to have an eye for branding not just design.” The paper falls with a flutter as he adds, “There’s a critical difference and not everyone has it.”
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I manage, my throat feeling dry but in a good way. I manage to answer Jack, although my throat feels tight. “Thank you for noticing.”
“I… yes,” I say, nodding vigorously. “Absolutely I can.” Oh my gosh. I didn’t even consider a promotion. A bonus yes, a raise in pay, heck yes, I’ll take that any day.
“Alright! Well, Sarah will see that the contract is on your desk by Monday to sign. Thank you for your hard work,” Jack says, standing and offering me a handshake.
With the meeting apparently over, I stand and shake his hand, trying not to let him see that I’m trembling. It’s an excited tremble. Sarah smiles at me on the way out. I don’t know how I’m even walking, I’m so stunned. Once the door is closed behind us, I let out a breath.
“I can’t say thank you enough,” I confess to Sarah.
She laughs. “I told you it was nothing bad!”
I reach out and almost grab her hand or hug her, but instead I clasp mine in front of me, feeling so grateful and overwhelmed. Remain professional, I remind myself. “Thanks so much, Sarah. Really.”
“Well, I just wanted you to realize that I see how hard you work. I see all the nights you’re here late, and all the crap you put up with from the clients.”
“You won’t regret this. I promise,” I say. The giddiness takes over as the shock wears off.
“I’m sure I won’t,” she states matter of factly, winking.
We part ways, Sarah back to her office and me back to my cubicle. Still smiling so hard that it hurts, I return to my seat. Immediately, Diane’s head pops up over the cubicle walls. Holy shit. I let out a small laugh, short and full of relief.
“You scared the crap out of me,” I joke.
“What was that all about?” she asks. “It looked serious.”
“I… I actually got a promotion,” I admit to her, my smile never waning. “It’s weird to say it out loud.” Oh my gosh, I got a promotion. It’s my first ever. I’m still in disbelief.
“What?” she asks, standing straighter. “Promotion to what?”
“They need someone to manage the project desk,” I answer her, turning in my chair to face her fully and finally breathing normally.
“No way! I thought Melanie was going to run the art desk.”
She looks and sounds… pissed. It takes a second to realize that. She’s not at all happy for me. The deep crease in the center of her forehead and scowl on her face give that away. She can’t even pretend to be happy for me? I swallow, feeling the high die down and answer her, “Well, apparently not. They just offered it to me.”
“Congrats! Seriously, that’s awesome.” Although her words are kind... and rushed, her expression and tone are still off.
“Thanks.” I smile and try to shrug it off.
“We should go celebrate later! Go out, grab some drinks.” Her fun side comes back, and for a second I think I imagined her original reaction.
I must have. She may be obnoxious at times, but I think about it, then decide what the hell.
“Sure. Maybe we could go to that bar with the awesome Mexican food?” I offer.
“Sarita’s? Yeah, girl. And then we can make our way to Mac’s.”
I go silent, but nod. Charlie said he wants me to come to keep up appearances, but I don’t know if I can bring myself to do it. I don’t want to get hurt. I don’t want to play games anymore.
“What?” Diane asks. “You don’t want to go to Mac’s?”
“I was just thinking somewhere else would be nice to let loose,” I answer her, but even to me it sounds like a lie. My heart hurts just thinking about it.
“Is it because of Charlie? Oh my God, did you two break up?”
“Jesus, Diane!” I say, lowering my voice and looking around. “Not everything is about Charlie.”
“You did! You totally broke up,” Diane says, a hint of glee evident in her eyes.
“For your information, there was nothing to break up. We were having fun. Leave it alone Diane.” I wish I could reach out and snatch my words back. It hurts to say it out loud.
“Were?” she questions and I’ve had it.
“I said leave it alone.” My tone reflects my anger.
“Oh,” she says. It’s hard to read what she’s really thinking. “Well, alright. Let’s go to the bar with the Mexican food, then.”
“Fine,” I say, on edge. I’d rather be angry than anything else. So I cling to that emotion although I think I’m only angry at myself. “I have a lot of work I need to finish first.”
“I guess that’s why you got the promotion,” she says, with a tight smile. “I’ll be back at six to bug you, though.”
She disappears behind her side of the wall. I’m left trying to decide if I should feel bad for snapping at her.
I slip on my headphones and sink into my work, refusing to think about any of this mess of a love life anymore. Well I try. But that doesn’t work. All I can think about is Charlie and how Diane is right. We’re over. Break up, labels or whatever. It’s over.
Charlie
I’m about two seconds away from texting Grace when she walks through the front door of the bar. About fucking time.
I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning, the morning after the wedding.
She’s still in her work clothes, but her hair is down and swishing around her shoulders as she walks in.
A feminine screech echoes through the bar behind her, and Grace turns to look over her shoulder.
“We’re finally here!” Diane’s with her, and my expression falls. I don’t understand how the two of them are friends. I stay behind the bar and move to the far left, where Grace usually sits and where the dishwasher is. My eyes flicker up and I watch the two of them as I get to work. Diane stumbles slightly and talks a bit too loud. A few customers turn to watch them walk in, but then they go right back to what they were doing before.
“I love this place,” Diane says, dragging Grace by the hand. Grace lets her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and seemingly not wanting to come over to me. I don’t like it, and I don’t understand it in the least.
Diane’s quick to sit on the barstool at the far end. Grace’s stool.
I don’t pay her any attention, waiting for Grace to look at me. When she finally does, I can see the same worry there that was on her face at the wedding before she looks away again. That sick feeling of anxiety washes through me. What the hell do I need to do to make her happy?
Make it official.
I grab a glass and wipe it down with a drying cloth as Grace takes a seat.
“Hey there,” I speak up, waiting for her gaze to meet mine.
“Hey,” her voice is soft. She desperately needs more. She needs a title: girlfriend. For real. My body heats at the thought, but if that’s what it takes, I’ll give it to her. I’ll make it real and let the world know. Ever since the wedding, they’ve all been pushing me anyway.
I open my mouth to say something to put her at ease, but Diane speaks up, leaning forward and tapping the bar.
“We’re getting wasted tonight,” she says, already far more drunk than Grace. I cock a brow at her.
“Is that so?” My eyes dart back to Grace as she sets her purse down on the bar.
“Can we have two drink specials, please?” Diane asks, taking my attention again.
“That what you want, sweetheart?” I ask Grace. I hold those doe eyes when she finally looks back at me. “Whatever you want, it’s yours.” I don’t think I’ve ever said truer words.
“Yeah,” she says absently. I watch her swallow as she looks down at her clutch. It’s awkward, and I don’t like it. I don’t know what happened between yesterday and today. Whatever it is, I need to fix it.
“Thank you!” Diane practically yells, bouncing in her seat. It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking about the beers. Right.
&nbs
p; I scratch the back of my head as I head to the cooler and get their drinks. I could fucking use one about now, too.
With two beers in one hand, the glass bottles clinking together, I quickly pop the tops off.
“Charlie!” a customer calls out to me. I wave back, giving them a tight smile but then walk up to James and brush my shoulder against his.
“Take care of them,” I instruct, and he follows my eyes to the customer.
“You got it,” he says, already moving.
I know I have a rep with these customers. All of them really. But right now, I need time with Grace. Something’s not right and I’m not waiting on closing time to put that smile on her face.
I pass Diane the beer and then set Grace’s in front of her, but I don’t let go. When she tries to grab it, I pull it away, making her tilt her head and smile softly.
I let her have the bottle the second time she reaches for it, mostly because it brings a little happiness to those does eyes of hers. “How’s work?” I ask her, and she finally lightens up some.
“I got a promotion,” she answers me with a bit of giddiness that makes the nerves settle.
“That’s fantastic,” I tell her as I toss the caps to the beer in the trash can. “Congrats, sweetheart.”
She takes a sip of her beer, still looking a bit nervous.
“You okay-” I start to ask her, but Diane chips in.
“It’s really crazy, too. We were sure one of our other coworkers was going to take that job,” Diane shakes her head, a look of bewilderment on her face before taking a drink.
My gaze moves to Grace, who’s watching Diane with a small frown.
“I have go to the bathroom real quick,” Grace doesn’t look me in the eyes as she slips off the stool. The air between us is thick and it makes my stomach stir with unease. I don’t know what’s wrong with her, but I’ll find out tonight once everyone leaves. Whatever it is, I’ll make it better for her. A sick feeling in my gut is telling me that it’s me. Us. But I ignore it. We’re going to be fine.