Montaine

by Rome, Ada

  As soon as I hung up the phone I received a text from Trent.

  How did the babysitting go?

  I quickly typed out a reply.

  The kids were great! No news on Oscar. Ezzie wants you to know that it’s not your fault. She said you have been a good friend to them.

  Trent did not reply by the time I arrived at my building a few blocks away. I pushed open the door to my room and walked straight into a cloud of peach-scented body spray. Marcie was busily spritzing and twirling her partially clothed body.

  “Jesus, Marcie. That’s enough body spray to kill a horse.”

  “I’m not trying to kill a horse,” she chirped. “I’m trying to catch a man!”

  “Uh-oh. Which men are in danger of being ensnared by your undeniable allure and your toxic cloud of peachy aphrodisiac?”

  “Only one man,” she replied, slipping into a black jersey knit dress and lifting the cap sleeves over her shoulders. “It’s your friend, Tony.”

  “Tony? Seriously? He asked you out?” I plopped onto her bed, my jaw hanging loose.

  “Not exactly. I figured he would be too shy, so I made the first move. I stole his number from your phone when you weren’t looking. You should really put a password on that thing, you know.”

  I growled with mock disapproval as she stepped into a pair of cherry red patent leather heels.

  My phone buzzed in my purse. The message was from Trent.

  What are you up to right now?

  I punched in my reply.

  Working on a new story idea!

  “Maybe you could call Trent, and we’ll double!” Marcie dabbed her lips with gloss and brushed her shining hair.

  “I don’t think so. I have research to do tonight. Listen, don’t say anything to Tony about me and Trent, ok? He doesn’t know yet. I’d like to keep it a secret for the time being.”

  Marcie threw back her head and guffawed with a wide-open mouth.

  “You think Tony doesn’t know?”

  “Did he tell you that he knows?”

  “No, but he’s not an idiot. The sexual electricity between you and Trent nearly singed the hair off my arms when I stood between you.”

  “Still, just don’t mention it. For me?”

  Marcie tottered over in her heels and planted a sticky kiss on my forehead. “You have my word, my love. I will not tell anyone that Trent regularly fucks your brains to smithereens.”

  “Thank you, dear,” I said with a sideways smirk.

  My phone buzzed in my hand with another text from Trent.

  Anything that would interest me?

  I hope so! But I’m not telling you yet. It’s for the contest…

  Good. I’m one of the judges. Let’s keep this honest. And get that sexy ass back to work. ;)

  “So? What do you think?” Marcie gave a Hollywood starlet pose with tilted hips and one bent knee.

  “You look fantastic. Be nice to Tony. He’s a good boy.”

  “Oh, Kat. I’m always nice to good boys.”

  She grabbed her silver clutch from the desk and blew me a kiss.

  “Have fun!” I shouted as she waved over her shoulder, her heels clicking loudly across the tiled hallway.

  Chapter 15

  Over the next several days, I conducted one interview after another during the hours before and after work.

  Tanya Temple turned out to be a warm, funny, and intelligent young woman. I learned that her husband, the improbably named Eugene, was a software engineer in his daytime hours. He had taken up fighting after recovering from a nearly fatal car accident. He soon found that he had a natural ability in the ring. I asked her about the stress involved when such large sums of money were on the table.

  “You win some, you lose some.” She shrugged. “But life is short. You only get one chance. That’s what the accident taught us. Eugene feels fully alive when he is in the ring. I would never take that from him.”

  As we spoke, an angelic toddler with a head of riotous orange curls leapt into Tanya’s lap.

  “She has her father’s hair color,” I joked.

  “And his toughness,” she replied.

  “Well, I’d say that probably comes from both of you.”

  She smiled and tried in vain to smooth her daughter’s popping ringlets.

  With each interview, I carefully pieced together the different strands of narrative into a coherent whole. I spoke to a night-shift nurse whose husband took up fighting after they lost their home to foreclosure. I spoke to a father who entered the ring as a way to finance mounting medical bills when his son was born with a congenital heart defect. By telling their stories, I wanted to give the reader a complete sense of the drama, the behind-the-scenes struggles and triumphs of fighters on the margins.

  “You look like you’re in the zone,” Tony said from behind my head as I sat furiously typing on Thursday morning.

  “Tony! How did it go?” I had been so preoccupied the past few days that I had completely forgotten to ask him about his date with Marcie.

  “How did what go?” he asked with a hint of coyness.

  “Oh, come on. You know what I mean. Your date!”

  The most I had been able to drag out of Marcie was a tiny smile and a sheepish, “It was nice.” Since she was usually so free with the sordid details of her dating life, I knew that her shyness regarding Tony was either a very good sign or a very bad sign.

  “It was nice,” Tony replied with a pink blush overspreading his forehead and cheeks.

  “Geez, you two.” I huffed a lock of hair out of my eyes. “So secretive.”

  “Secretive, huh?” He leaned on my desk and crossed his arms. “And you wouldn’t know anything about being secretive, would you?”

  Discomfort must have registered on my face because he immediately placed a hand on my shoulder. “Relax, Marcie didn’t tell me anything. I figured it out on my own. And your secrets are safe with me.”

  “Thank you, Tony. You’re the best of the best.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know. Speaking of the best of the best though,” he leaned over my shoulder and peered at my computer screen. “What have you been working on so intently? Is this for the contest?”

  “It sure is. I think I’m onto something good. I’ll be ready to submit it just in time for the deadline on Tuesday.”

  “Well, I’ll let you get back to it. Let me know if you need a coffee break.” He swished the liquid in my half-filled styrofoam cup and hopped from my desk.

  An envelope icon appeared in the bottom right corner of my laptop screen. I opened my email inbox and read the new message.

  Miss Raney,

  I need to see you in my office immediately.

  Your boss,

  Mr. Montaine

  “Shit,” I muttered and closed my hand over my mouth.

  I pushed away from my desk and hurried toward the hallway of executive offices, my black kitten heels ticking rapidly over the shiny floor.

  When I eased myself around the doorframe of Trent’s office, he was seated at his desk, his hands joined behind his head, elbows outward. A severe scowl darkened his features.

  “Close the door,” he said with menacing depth.

  I did as instructed, my heart jumping into my throat.

  “Lock it,” he said.

  I flipped the lock with a click.

  “Now come over here.”

  “Is everything alright?” I pressed my back against the closed door, my hand over my stomach.

  “Everything is about to get a whole lot better.”

  The wide grin that broke across his face told me that I was the victim of a prank. Trent was playing games. My irritation melted at the sight of his handsome face. My heart switched from racing anxiety to surging desire.

  I strolled slowly to his desk. He hungrily watched the swish of my short pink skirt above my bare legs. I slipped off my shoes and stood straddling his knees. He leaned back in his chair and gazed up at me, his hand sliding easily up my t
highs. He caressed the small triangle of sheer fabric that served as my panties and plucked down the stringy bands that clung tightly to my hips. I spread my legs wider apart as his fingers slipped into me and rubbed me gently from the inside.

  “Take off the shirt,” he said breathily.

  I gripped the hem of my ivory knit top, pulled it over my head, and tossed it onto the floor.

  “The bra too.”

  I reached around my back and unhooked my bra clasp. The pale pink straps slithered down my shoulders. The thin lace dropped from my breasts into his lap.

  He unzipped the waistband of my skirt. I stepped back and let it slide down my legs, where it pooled at my bare feet. He pinched the seams of my panties and pulled them smoothly over my hips. They also slid to the floor. I was completely naked.

  I unbuttoned his light blue shirt to reveal the chiseled contours of his sturdy chest in its coating of swirling cyclone tattoos. I unzipped his jeans and pulled his dick out of his gray cotton briefs, moaning softly as he licked and sucked on my taut nipples.

  “You know what to do, baby,” he growled.

  He slid his hands the length of my body from my neck to my waist, his touch like electricity coursing over my naked flesh. I climbed on top of him, straddling his lap, and lowered myself onto his huge erect shaft, groaning with mind-emptying pleasure at the sensation of his hard length plunged deep inside of me. He spanked me with a stinging slap and caressed my bare ass as I rocked my hips, grinding myself into him with each vigorous thrust.

  I went slowly at first, my stomach muscles churning, teasing him with each long, wet slide and deep penetration. He closed his hands around my thighs, his fingers digging into my skin with a bruising force.

  “Is this how you like it?” I purred. “I want to make my boss happy.”

  I gripped his chair and arched my back while my hips rocked faster and my breasts bounced with every rise and fall.

  “Oh, Kat,” he moaned. “I just can’t get enough of you. I want you on my dick all day long.”

  “Lucky for you, I have to do what you say.”

  “Fuck me harder then. Make it rough.” He placed a hand around my throat and squeezed with increasing force as I continued to grind and bounce faster.

  I gasped and moaned in absolute ecstasy with each movement. I panted with exertion as each plunge brought me closer to orgasm. Trent groaned and growled, squeezing my neck with one strong hand and slapping my ass with the other. I writhed with abandon, completely losing control in the soul-shuddering orgasmic frenzy that overtook my entire body. I threw my head back, my mouth open, and cried out with a ferocious animal lust as I clenched tight around him and a surge of unstoppable pleasure rocketed through my core and flowed to every extremity.

  “That’s my girl,” Trent whispered. “Ready for me now? Show me what you’ve got.”

  I rocked and bounced harder and faster as he gripped and squeezed my breasts. He thrust his hips beneath me as we joined in a steadily pulsing rhythm. He closed his eyes and came with a forceful final lunge, a powerful throb of release, and a low and rumbling moan.

  I collapsed onto his chest, breathing heavily, and kissed his neck and his collarbone. I closed my mouth over his warm lips as the final electric shudders of orgasm vibrated through our joined bodies. His fingertips slid gently down my tailbone. He pushed my hair to the side and kissed the narrow indent between my neck and shoulder.

  “Well, this is the best workday I’ve had in a while.” He laughed and hugged me tighter. I giggled and nuzzled my face against his stubbled cheek.

  “I’m glad I could be of service, Mr. Montaine.”

  We rested for several minutes while our heart rates slowed to a normal beat. I lifted myself up and perched on his knee, facing the desk. I saw that his laptop was open to a search page with references to “Hades.”

  “What’s this?” I asked. “Were you doing some research on that fighter?”

  “Yeah.” He sighed through his nose, his fingers absent-mindedly circling my shoulder blades and moving down my arms. “So far, I have been coming up empty. I assume that ‘Hades’ was a name he just made up for the purposes of the fight. I can’t find any other references to him. I got in touch with some of my contacts in the fighting world, and no one else has ever heard of him either. He apparently ducked out and disappeared right after the fight with Oscar. No one has seen him since.”

  “He is fairly distinctive looking.” I scrolled through the search results. “I feel like someone would have noticed those bleeding skull tattoos.”

  “It’s his face that seems familiar to me. It’s like I’ve seen him in another life or something. Like a case of déjà vu.”

  “Do you think he was after Oscar specifically?” I turned to peek at Trent. He ran a hand through his thick black hair, pushing a section of it back from his forehead.

  “I don’t know.” He shook his head. “I mean, I doubt it. I can’t imagine Oscar having any enemies, especially one like that.”

  “Maybe I’ll start digging around too. See if I can come up with anything.”

  “Speaking of digging around, what’s this new story that’s been keeping you busy? Can you give me a hint? What is it about?”

  I stood, plucked my bra and panties from the floor, and began to get dressed.

  “You’ll see,” I said with a wink. I pulled my shirt over my head, smoothing a few errant hairs that flew upwards with static.

  “Ah, now who’s being mysterious?” He buttoned his shirt and jeans.

  “Have I disappointed you yet?” I asked, echoing his words with a chiding smirk and dipping my feet into my shoes.

  “Not at all, my dear. Not…at…all.”

  “How do I look?” I stood in the center of the office for his appraisal, my arms outstretched.

  “Like you just had really amazing sex with a total stud.” He leaned backwards on the edge of his desk, tilting his head to the side and smiling with a deliciously rakish grin and a small tantalizing dimple.

  “No!” I reached out and batted playfully at his muscular arm. “That’s the last thing I want anyone to know!”

  He laughed. “I’m just kidding then. You look like a pure and virginal intern who has not had sex at any point today, and certainly not in an office chair during her lunch break.”

  “Lunch break? I didn’t get any lunch out of this deal.”

  “Are you hungry? I’ve got a big sausage for you.”

  “That’s the worst joke anyone has ever made. I’m going to pretend that I never heard it, for both our sakes.”

  “That’s probably for the best.” He chuckled and kissed me lightly on the lips. “You’re a funny girl, Kat. That’s one of the main reasons that I…like you so much.” He paused noticeably before the word like.

  My heart beat faster. I swallowed hard.

  “I like you too, Trent.”

  “Good. That’s settled then.” He spun me toward the door and spanked my behind. “Now get back to work, babe.”

  I tried to wipe away the smile that broke across my face as I left his office.

  “Hello, Kat. What are you up to?” I heard Kill’s voice as I rounded a corner. He stood before me, blocking my path. He looked back and forth between me and the open door to Trent’s office. His thin lips were pressed together in a sardonic grin.

  “Umm, just helping Trent with something.” I knew this was the wrong answer under the circumstances, but the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

  “Really? What were you helping him with?” Kill stepped closer, gazing down at me with his arms crossed over his narrow chest.

  “Just some research.” My voice cracked slightly. I cleared my throat.

  “Hmm. I see.” He bit his lower lip in a rat-like leer. His beady, close-set eyes traveled the entire length of my body. He bent forward as if about to whisper a secret. “Your skirt is crooked.” I had the unpleasant sensation of his hot breath on my ear.

  “What?” My hands flew t
o my waistband. Sure enough, my skirt not only sat askew on my hips but also backwards. I quickly adjusted it, spinning the zipper to the rear. A surge of heat overtook my face. I was sure that I had turned a telltale shade of red by this point, much to Kill’s mocking delight.

  “You should be more careful when you get dressed,” he said in a droll tone.

  “Yeah.” I laughed to disguise my embarrassment. Blood pounded in my temples. Beads of sweat broke out around my hairline. “I need to check these things before I leave the house in the morning!”

  “Riiiiiiight.” He drew out the word with a sarcastic flourish. “In the morning.” He reached a hand toward me. His cold fingers skated along my bare forearm, raising a trail of goosebumps. “Maybe you can give me a hand with some…umm…research one of these days.”

  I recoiled from his touch and saw a flash of anger momentarily light up his pale gray eyes. Without another word, he edged around me and strode down the hall, the thumps of his footfalls a steady percussion behind my head.

  His touch lingered on my arm like a layer of ice. His words echoed in my brain with a hissing threat. I shuddered involuntarily, my body trying to shake free any trace of that brief instant of unwelcome contact.

  I thought for a moment about returning to Trent’s office and telling him about this unpleasant exchange. But I couldn’t go tattling to Trent every time Kill decided to mess with me. Sure, he was a big bucket of sleaze. So what? I was a big girl. I could handle him.

  Besides, a peal of snickering laughter from Trent’s open doorway told me that Kill had beat me to it. He was already in Trent’s office.

  I returned to my desk amid the soothing murmur of voices and typing fingers. Lowering myself into my chair, I realized that I was too distracted to continue working on my story. I switched to the subject of this unknown fighter, Hades. Trent had turned up a solid blank so far, but maybe I would be able to locate new information.