“About what?” Her voice was quiet and tense as she looked at me and back toward her office. I stared her down until she approached me and leaned against the wall.
“Are you all right? I saw your…interaction down there,” I told her, as she frowned and let out a sigh.
“Of course. I bumped into him, and he was a jerk. Nothing more than that,” Elisa explained, as she looked at me with a sharp gaze. “Why did you look at him that way?”
“I hate when men treat women like that,” I admitted, as she leaned closer to hear me. I remembered why I avoided drinking at lunch now and pinched the bridge of my nose as I closed my eyes for a moment.
“What’s wrong?” Elisa asked me, as I heard the elevator open behind me. Glancing around, I saw that it was empty and reached out to pull her inside and close the door for some privacy. I knew that alcohol weakened me and made me lose my inhibitions, and I stared at her scared face. “What are you doing?”
“I just need a taste,” I explained, before I cupped her face and kissed her soft lips. Elisa protested for a moment, then I felt her hands cover mine and she returned the kiss slowly. I reached back and pressed the button that would take me to the roof, where I found a private moment every now and then. Our lips crashed together as we rode to the top, and I heard the ding before I turned around and took a deep breath. The door opened, and I surveyed the light area to see that we were alone as I took her hand and led her outside.
I knew that I was feeling a little intoxicated and that this was a bad idea, but I needed more.
Elisa shivered and crossed her arms as she pulled her hand away. “What are we doing out here? I need to get to work, Damon. This is my job.” She wouldn’t look at me as she leaned against the door frame. “You’re acting weird. Are you drunk? I tasted the alcohol on your tongue.”
Shame filled me as I stepped back to look at her. Elisa was scared and, more than that, uncomfortable. I knew that she’d kissed me, but now she was uncertain of everything. “I had a few drinks at lunch. I saw you in the lobby, and I couldn’t let you go, but I don’t think that it’s just alcohol. I know I need to stay away from you, Elisa. I just don’t know if I can.”
“I need this internship, Damon. I can’t blow this chance, because I might never have it again,” She stared at me, and I saw strength in those eyes. “You’re not worth the risk, even if I do want you more than I’ve wanted any man. I have to go back to work. They’ll be looking for me.” I watched her turn to leave, opening the door and walking back to the elevator as I remained alone in the shade.
I felt empty and broken for the first time in my life, at least, for the first time because of a woman. They would usually do anything for me—anything for that last kiss. Elisa walked away from me, and I walked over to the edge of the rooftop and gazed over the streets at the city that I once felt like I owned.
Elisa
I rushed inside and pushed the button for the elevator, turning to look behind me. Did I want him to chase me and tell me that I could have him and the internship?
No, that wasn’t my path. I was supposed to finish school and get the best job that I could, to take care of Mom and me. I couldn’t lose sight of that because I was attracted to the boss.
I stepped into the car and pushed the button for my floor. I ran my hands over my clothes and my hair, as I tried to look around to see a reflection of myself. I couldn’t look like I’d done this with Damon, whatever this was. I stepped off the elevator and lifted my head as I headed straight for the restroom to find a mirror, and whatever was left of my dignity.
When I came out, Devin was passing by to go to the men’s room, and he stopped with a smile. I had fixed my makeup, and I knew that I looked back to normal, so I smiled back.
“Hey, you,” he greeted me.
I compared his kiss to that of Damon’s, and it was night and day. Devin’s was pleasurable at best, but Damon’s was like the air that I needed to breathe to survive. I know that I’d lost myself in that elevator and likely led him on, but he was intoxicating and, even now, my mouth burned for more. It felt like I would never stop tingling for him, no matter how much time passed.
“Hi, Devin. How are you?” I asked him, as he looked me over.
“I’m great. I’m really looking forward to Friday,” His eyes searched mine, and I nodded.
“I am as well.” I felt the sweat pooling in my hair as he looked at me and quickly licked my lips. “I need to get to my team, Devin. I’m running late today, due to traffic, and they’re expecting me. Can we talk after work?”
“Sure, that would be great. Are you all right, Elisa?” He looked concerned, and I brushed a drop of sweat from my forehead and smiled.
“I’m fine, Devin. I just hate being late.” There was a lot more that I could’ve added to the statement, but I left it alone. I didn’t need to give Damon any more fuel than I already had.
“Get to your team. I’ll meet you in the lobby after work, around six? That’s how long you work, right?” I nodded. Normally it was, but I was willing to stay if things ran late. I already felt like I needed to make up for what I’d done with Damon. “See you soon.”
I saw Autumn walking over and she watched Devin leave. “Did you guys hit it off?”
“Kind of. I’m sorry that I’m late, Autumn. There was traffic getting here,” I told her, as she shrugged.
“No worries. You work hard when you’re here, and this is Boston. Traffic is everywhere,” She smiled and pushed the bathroom door open. “Check out the plans!! They’re looking hot.”
I grinned and headed to our room to greet the rest of the team. I loved it here. I loved the vibe and the creative flow that existed here. I didn’t want to risk it for a fling with Damon, even if it would be the hottest thing I might ever do in my life. I needed this for my future more than I needed any man.
I looked over their progress and admired it. I longed to be a full-time employee here, doing this every day, but that would come soon. I just needed to prove myself, and I would have that.
I threw myself into the project, and we talked about ideas, jotting some down as Michael worked on the computer. Everyone had their place here, and I was going to find mine as well.
We ended up working until eight before we straggled out of there, and I knew I missed Devin. I didn’t care too much, though, which was something that I didn’t want to focus on. Devin was the right guy here, and the one that I should be with.
I accepted a ride home from Vince, who lived near me, and we talked shop the whole way home. I got out, went inside my apartment, and made a quick sandwich before I went into my room and read a book on my Kindle until I fell asleep. It was exhausting to have a conversation with all of the girls who lived here when we were all home, and I wondered when I’d be able to get my own place. Maybe I could get something nice with Mom, somewhere she could walk outside and feel safe.
I dreamed about Damon that night. In the dream, we didn’t stop with a kiss. I let him take me in that elevator, in some alternate universe, letting him have me against the walls as I cried out his name. It was rough and intense, and I could hear the sounds of our bodies slapping together as I woke up slowly with a low moan. I pulled my hand out of my underwear and looked over, in horror, to Melody’s bed, thankful when I found it empty.
I couldn’t believe that I’d dreamed that and, judging from the throbbing between my thighs, had gotten myself off in my sleep. How embarrassing. I needed to figure this out and get him out of my head.
I showered and went to class dressed in a skirt and sweater for the office in order to save time. It was chilly out, but my tights and jacket took the edge off of the cold as I sipped coffee and tried to focus on class, taking lots of notes. A lot of the students used laptops, but I found that writing it down helped me to remember, something I learned early on. Most of the time I’d type them into a file for study purposes, to further the process. I had a hard time making sense of what I was writing today, and downed the last of the
coffee as I frowned and looked at the board.
I grabbed a muffin before my next class and another coffee with a sigh. Everyone drank coffee all day at work too, and I suspected that I wouldn’t be able to avoid the addiction for too much longer. So far, I’d just treated it as something special when I was fatigued.
When I stepped off of the bus to go to the office, I glanced around to see a coffee shop on the corner, followed by another one down the street. I laughed, and watched as the door opened to the further one and Damon stepped out with Brent, taking my breath away. He was dressed in his regular suit, something that he managed to improve with a crisp black jacket. I drank in the sight of him and realized that he always looked so perfect, not a hair out of place, or ever shabby.
Apart from yesterday. Yesterday, he’d looked a little messy after the elevator. I watched as he turned his head to look down the street, meeting meet my eyes, and everything come back to me from the day before. Even with the distance, I could see his irises darken, and his mouth soften as I licked my own lips.
I turned to walk into the building, once again pushing away my feelings.
Damon
I was a wreck after I went back to my office from the roof. It took everything that I had not to go and snatch Elisa from her office and have my way with her in mine. I had the most spacious office in the building, and there were a lot of surfaces to christen, something I’d only ever wanted to do with Elisa.
Seeing her on the street made the situation far worse.
Her words played back through my mind as I tried to read through emails, applying them to my own life. I couldn’t risk anything, either, since dating her would be completely against the rules. I sensed that Elisa wasn’t the kind of woman to want to give it all up in order to be taken care of by me, like some of the others I’d encountered. For some reason, Elisa was adamant about getting this herself, and I knew that she had the talent. She wouldn’t settle for less, something that turned me on more about her.
Elisa was different.
I left a few hours after the incident, once I realized that Brent noticed that I was on edge about something. He was one of the only people who I considered a friend, but I couldn’t admit to him what was going on. I used the excuse of an appointment and ran out of the building to work out, something that seemed to keep me in control.
I worked out for an hour, noticing a redhead across the room who kept glancing my way. Her hair was a very artificial red, but she had a nice body, and I looked her over as she smiled my way. She made her way over to me once I was finishing up on the treadmill and met my eyes with her own hazel gaze. “Hi. I don’t typically approach men in the gym, I swear. I just couldn’t help it.”
“It’s not a problem. I’m Damon. What is your name?” I stepped down and still towered over her by several feet.
“Natalie. I just moved into the building a few weeks ago,” she responded, as I sized her up with my eyes. She did something in business to live in this building, and I looked for a ring on her finger. I learned at an early age that a wedding ring didn’t stop a lot of people from coming after me, but her hand was bare. Natalie was around my age, and I wondered about her as I looked into her eyes.
We made our way to the elevator, talking. She told me that she was the owner of a high-end cosmetic company here in town. I wasn’t too familiar with that kind of thing, but I knew the name enough to understand that it was successful. She invited me inside her apartment for coffee, an invitation that I accepted as I looked around her smaller unit with sharp eyes. She was single, and everything was simple but nice inside.
We sat down at the bistro table for coffee, and I told her about my company. I saw the look that I always saw in women’s eyes when I spoke about myself. She was impressed and interested, and I selfishly decided to take advantage of that as I sipped my coffee.
I let her kiss me first, but I took it from there. Her lips were nothing like Elisa’s, but I pushed past that, took her to her bedroom, and tore her skimpy bra from her body after I’d destroyed her tank top. I knew going in that Natalie wasn’t one of my usual kind of women, but she went along with everything that I did. She was naked before I was, sucking my cock as I forced it into her mouth from above as I slipped my shorts down. We were both sweaty from the workout, but the idea of her mouth cleaning me up excited me as I reached back to finger her clit, making her moan around me.
I remembered Elisa’s mouth as I started to rock against her and closed my eyes. I slipped a finger inside of Natalie, and she bucked forward as I felt teeth on me. I pulled out and stared down at her, red-faced and breathing heavily. “Do you have a condom?” I asked her, since I didn’t usually hook up with women in my own building. I didn’t carry them with me, particularly to the gym.
She reached for the nightstand, yanked open the drawer, and threw something at me. Even if I didn’t have my finger buried inside of her, I’d know that she wanted this from her eyes. I took the packet and ripped it open, sliding the latex over my generous cock before I told her to get on her knees. Natalie scrambled to do so, and I spread her legs and drove myself inside of her. She cried out, bucking against me as I took what I wanted and more, grabbing her hips as I moved again.
Natalie’s creamy breasts were bouncing in the light of the sun as I fucked her, and I reached around to cup one, finding her nipple with my fingers before I pinched down. Natalie screamed and tightened around me as I smiled and squeezed harder. She came all around my cock as I jerked inside of her and filled the condom, my thoughts filled with images of Elisa.
I was hard even after coming, and I turned her onto her back and sucked on her small nipples as I fucked her again. She was like a doll in my arms, and I felt her release again even though she could only moan softly now. I bit down as she arched her back and shot her warmth over me, coming again in the new condom that I’d demanded.
I felt my anger towards myself slip through the cracks of my need and pulled out of the woman underneath me. A quick glance told me that her world had completely changed in a different way than mine had, as I pushed up to go to the bathroom.
I checked back through my memory to make sure that I hadn’t told her where I lived in the building, or even where I worked. Natalie was busy trying to flirt while talking about herself, and I hadn’t had the time, something I was happy about at the moment. I hoped she had gotten what she wanted, because it was never happening again. I could already feel my walls going up around me as I exited the bathroom and picked up my shorts. I needed a shower.
“Damon, are you leaving?” Natalie asked, as I glanced at the bed.
“I have work to do,” The cold tone in my voice made its way through the room, and I noticed her pull her blankets up around her body as she shivered. I hoped that she understood that this wouldn’t happen again. I had let my need for Elisa control things for a moment, and that wouldn’t happen again.
“Oh.” Her voice was small from the other side of the room, and I walked into the living room to gather the rest of my things before I walked out.
There had to be a way to regain control of what was happening in my life.
Elisa
I worked past eight and wondered if that’s how this was going to happen. Was I slowly going to stay later and later and let it consume my life? Or was it just a way to keep Damon out of my mind? I took the offer of a ride home and went home to study for a test the following day before realizing that the next day was Friday and I had a date. I’d only seen Devin from a distance at work the rest of the week, but I knew that he’d find me tomorrow.
I let out a sigh and read through my written notes with a scowl, not having time to create a document this week. I sipped the energy drink that I used only when I needed it and glanced at Melody, who was hunched over her own books with some noise reducing headphones over her ears. I didn’t think she ever listened to anything, sometimes, since she was so still.
I focused my attention on the words in front of me and tucked the blanket furt
her around my body. This apartment had central heating and air, but it wasn’t the greatest insulation in the world and the cold weather seeped through the walls.
I started thinking about the date and about what we were going to do. I remembered the look in Devin’s eyes outside the bathroom, and I knew that he’d want more than a kiss. He was into me, more so than I was into him. Should I just give in and let him have me? Maybe it would cure the itch deep inside of my body that all of the dreams and orgasms didn’t seem to stop. It was all too easy, and I read the words on the page over again.
I fell asleep around midnight, too tired to stay awake. The light was off already, and I was using the clip-on that I’d bought at the cheap corner store. I regretted not even having my computer in the late hour, and I whispered the words to myself as questions and answered them before I gave in to sleep.
I woke up in time for a shower before I ran off to school. I hoped that Devin would give me time to come home before we went out, since I looked like every bit of the overworked college student that I was. I took my test and felt great about it as I left the classroom to attend my only other class of the day.
The other students were noticing the change of attire, since I was now dressing for the office all day. I didn’t have a lot of friends, but I told them about my internship as the comments became more frequent. They were all impressed, I could tell. I wondered how many of them applied for my internship or others and didn’t get them.
I headed to the office after class to get in some hours. I knew that I’d be leaving earlier tonight, so I wanted to make that up, despite the fact that I was putting in more time than required. I reminded myself that there would be a time when all of this would pay off, and I’d be at peace. Devin was walking in with coffee as I got there, and we talked on the way to the elevators, planning the night. He told me that he’d pick me up at my place at seven o’clock after I told him that I wanted to change. I agreed. I didn’t think I had time to fit him into the chaos that was my life, but he was an appropriate man with whom to at least try.
His Brother's Wife Page 49