by Iona Rose
I threw it off and silenced him with a glare.
Only when I entered the Uber for the ride home, did it hit me what had just transpired. Blaze had just made a fool out of me in front of Daphne. Clearly, something was going on between them. She couldn’t just come to his place without warning, unless they had an understanding.
My breath came out coarser and faster. The voice of reason in my head kicked in and tried to reason with me. Blaze would not deliberately hurt me. He loved me.
All that might be true, but clearly, something had transpired between him and Daphne. I tried to breathe through the agonizing pain in my chest as a vision of Blaze and Daphne tangled up in bed, sprung into my mind.
Mercifully, my brain went into autopilot. The Uber came to a stop in front of the townhouse. I sprinted to the house and when I was safely inside, I burst into tears. What had I gotten myself into? Being with Blaze was like being inside a yoyo. One minute we were blissfully happy and the next I was swimming in the depths of misery.
I’d never been a jealous person but being with Blaze, a side of me that I didn’t like very much was emerging. My phone vibrated, shaking my purse and I ignored it, knowing it was Blaze. I wasn’t interested in what he had to say. All I wanted was to shower and slip into bed.
My stomach rumbled with hunger but I couldn’t bear to eat anything. I just wanted to sleep and obliterate this awful day.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Blaze
I stood outside our townhouse looking at Brooke’s apartment. The bathroom lights were on and she stayed there for a long time before switching them off and moving to her bedroom. I could visualize all her movements. I hoped there were no nosy neighbors watching me… watching Brooke.
I’d tried calling her but she’d been ignoring my calls. I texted her again.
Please pick up my calls. I can explain.
Twenty minutes later, I called for an Uber and went back home. I understood why the scene with Daphne had ruffled her but I was getting tired of being judged without a hearing.
I fumed on the way home as I thought about Brooke’s reaction and previous reactions when she’d seen me with a woman. I felt frustrated and angry. I went straight to the shower, hoping the cold water would cool me down. It helped somewhat.
I made dinner and felt double misery as I ate it alone, knowing if Daphne had not come by, Brooke would have been with me. I’d laid it down for Daphne and after that, I felt sure I wasn’t going to have any more problems with her.
I wish I could say the same about Brooke. What about the next time a woman showed up at my place or behaved too familiar with me? Would our relationship be over?
We needed to have an honest talk if we were to have a chance at making us work.
I spied Brooke at work the following morning as she headed to the photocopy room. I headed towards the opposite direction to her office, completely unraveling my plans. I’d planned to speak to her at lunch time, but I couldn’t wait a moment longer.
She returned to her office five minutes later and gasped when she saw me. “You gave me a fright,” she said and shut the door.
“We need to talk,” I said.
“Wrong place, wrong time,” she said casually, except her shaky voice gave her away.
I waited for her to go around her desk and sit down. Despite my frustration, I couldn’t help but think how sexy she looked in this red dress that fit her like a second skin but in a classy way. But that was Brooke. She would look classy in a sack.
She sat down and rested her hands on her desk. “I’m listening.”
I knew behind the cavalier attitude was insecurity and I hated that she was feeling that way, but I was also fed up. I had asked myself over and over again what Brooke took me for. “I texted and called you last night.”
Her cool exterior disintegrated. “I don’t want to play games, Blaze.”
“Who is playing games?” I demanded. My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces. This wasn’t the direction I’d wanted this conversation to go. I didn’t want us to sound like my past relationships, if you’d call them that.
Relationships which, majority of the time, had involved playing with words, hurting each other and refusing to open up. I now knew I’d never truly opened myself up to another woman before Brooke. I’d never allowed myself to be vulnerable to someone else. But those days were clearly gone.
“Blaze, what the fuck did you expect me to think after she came in like that?” Brooke exploded. “That you were just friends?” she exclaimed, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
“Look, I know what it looked like. I’m just asking for one thing. That you trust me and give me the benefit of doubt. Give me a chance to explain. That’s how relationships work. People talk.”
She stared at me and then looked away.
I knew she was thinking about my past but she needed to erase that if we were to have a chance.
“I’m trying Blaze,” she said softly.
My heart melted. “I know you are. For the record, I never slept with Daphne.”
Relief came over her features.
“You never have to worry about me. There’s no other woman for me, apart from you, Hot Sauce. Only you.”
Tears flooded her eyes. She nodded. “Okay.”
The door flung open without warning and Mason walked in. He pointed a finger at me. “Why are you always nosing around here?”
I jumped to my feet. “I’m the one who should be asking you that, Mason. What do you want with Brooke? She’s not interested in you, has she told you that?”
He made as if to grab my shirt but I was too fast for him. I caught his hands and twisted them around his back. Pricks like Mason made me glad I had done karate for seven years and was a black belt.
“Blaze please,” Brooke pleaded and stood between us, forcing me to take a step back.
Mason straightened his shirt, all the while trying to stare me down.
Unfortunately, for him, he’d picked the wrong person to bully. I wasn’t frightened of him. We were at the same level in terms of organizational structure.
“This is not the place for personal matters and he knows it!” Mason shouted and then beat a hasty retreat before I could respond.
“If you don’t do something about him, I will,” I said to Brooke.
“Please, I told you, I can handle him. Look I need to get back to work,” Brooke said.
I looked at her. This wouldn’t be the end of it. “Fine.” I waited a beat. “Dinner at my place? To make up for yesterday?”
Her features softened. “I’d love to.”
I didn’t trust Mason but I also knew there wasn’t much he could do to Brooke at work. I gave her a quick kiss and went back to my office.
We didn’t go home together that evening. Brooke said she wanted to go home first after which she would come to my place. That suited me as it gave me time to pass by the grocery store and grab a few things for dinner.
I got home and hopped into the shower before I began to cook.
By the time Brooke came around, dinner was ready and at the table. “I like you in an apron,” she said, her gaze sliding over me.
“I thought you would,” I flirted back and leaned forward to kiss her. I inhaled her scent appreciatively. “You smell good enough to eat.”
“So do you,” Brooke shrugged out of her sweater.
“You look gorgeous too, by the way.” I liked her in sleeveless tops and dresses. I loved seeing as much of her skin as possible. “Dinner is ready.”
“Awesome,” she said. “Smells yummy.”
A few minutes later, we were seated at the kitchen table eating grilled steaks and salad.
“This should be your specialty,” Brooke said as she licked sauce from her upper lip.
“I have a better idea,” I said, my mind already on the things I wanted to do to her.
Brooke rolled her eyes and fought back a smile.
The smile won. My heart galloped in my chest. The woma
n seated in front of me was the only one I needed for the rest of my life. I loved Brooke. Not the casual kind of love, not the one you could easily find a replacement for. No. My love for her was all encompassing, leaving no space for a plan B. We had to work. We had to fight for us. There was no turning back for me.
“What?” Brooke said.
I took her hand over the table. “Let’s go to bed.” I needed her in my arms. I needed to still the doubt in my mind and reassure myself that Brooke was mine.
She glanced at the table. “What about the dishes? Shouldn’t we clean them first?”
“I’ll take care of them later,” I said.
She made as if to say something but she must have seen something in my eyes because she closed her mouth and stood. “Let’s go.”
I took her hand and led her to my bedroom. I shut the world behind us and pulled her into my arms. I went straight for her neck and trailed soft kisses along her sensitive skin. Her body molded into mine as if it was a liquid form. My hands roamed her curves but it wasn’t enough. I needed to feel her skin under my fingers. “I need you naked.”
“I love it when you’re commanding.” She stepped back, away from me and proceeded to remove her clothes.
I did the same without taking my eyes away from her.
When we were both naked, we faced each other, the attraction between us flammable.
I took her hand and laid her down on the bed. I covered her body with mine and kissed her to my heart’s content. I supported my body with my elbows and looked down at her. “I love you Brooke Mathews. Love as in love.”
She wriggled under me.
I’d come to realize the thought of us falling in love frightened Brooke. Well, it was too late. It had already happened and she would just have to get used to it. There was no rush. Before she could protest, I covered her mouth with mine and kissed her senseless.
Brooke ran her fingers over my chest, teasing my nipples and kneading my muscles.
I flipped us around until she was on top of me. I reached for her breasts and cupped them. “Perfect,” I murmured as I took a nipple into my mouth.
She reached for my cock and arranged it, so it lay between her legs grazing against her pussy. She rocked back and forth, her hand still between us, keeping my cock where she wanted it. “I need you inside,” Brooke moaned as she sat up. She rested her palms on my chest and pushed down as she raised up, then lowered herself onto my steel hard cock.
She looked so glorious with her big beautiful breasts swaying as she came down on my cock. Her pussy shuddered around my shaft and I had to distract myself to avoid coming too soon.
I inhaled deeply then forced myself to relax and concentrate on how gorgeous Brooke looked straddling me. I caressed her thighs softly and reached up to play with her nipples.
“Oh God…” Brooke panted.
“That good?” I teased her.
“Better,” she said.
I reached between us to stroke her clit. Her eyes widened. It felt good to know what I did to her. What I made her feel. I knew all her weak points and it didn’t take long before she was shuddering with her climax. I flipped us around again and arranged myself between her legs.
“I want more,” Brooke said.
“And I am going to give it to you,” I promised. My thrusts were easy at first but when Brooke’s hands squeezed my ass and pulled me closer with her thighs, I increased my speed. The sounds of our pleasure filled the room as the rest of the world faded away while Brooke and I lost ourselves in each other.
I rammed into her hard. Her fingers dug into my ass cheeks, urging me to thrust even deeper. She whimpered and I knew she was close to coming. I watched the pleasure on her face and I knew the exact moment when she orgasmed. “Fuck,” I groaned, unable to hold back my own release.
We lay side by side panting, waiting for our breathing to go back to normal.
“Are you going to spend the night?” I asked her later.
“I’d love to,” she said. “We have to make up for yesterday.” She drew imaginary lines on my chest.
“Good idea,” I said and ran my fingers lightly over her back and curvy ass.
“I love you Blaze,” she said softly. “Love as in love.”
All the air left my lungs. Unable to speak, I kissed her forehead and held her tight.
“I love you too,” I said a few minutes later when my powers of speech returned.
“I’m going to trust you,” Brooke stated.
“But I also want you to talk to me when you feel insecure,” I pleaded with her. “I’ll clear it up for you. I don’t want you to hurt for any reason.”
There would be issues down the road. That was how relationships worked. What mattered was how we handled those bumps. Would we run away from them and from each other or would we hold hands and go over them together?
I wanted Brooke to be my last girlfriend. I wanted her to be my wife.
She turned around and I did the same, spooning her. I inhaled her scent and smiled. This was as close to heaven as a man could get.
“Are you asleep?” she asked.
“Not a chance,” I answered. “You?”
“I’m just giving you time to recover,” Brooke joked.
“Giving me a chance to recover?” I asked her, laughter in my voice. “I’ll show you who needs to recover.” I reached under her armpits, to her sensitive spot and proceeded to tickle her.
“Blaze, stop it!” she cried.
The next moment, the sheets were a mess as we wrestled in bed, naked.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brooke
“What’s different about you?” Carol asked when she walked into the photocopy room clutching a file. “You’re positively glowing.”
I smiled. “Am I? Thank you.”
“Do tell,” she said as she dropped the file on a table. “I could do with a natural glow.”
I laughed. “There’s nothing, honestly.” It was probably all the sex Blaze and I were indulging in. I’d heard that being in love released feel good pheromones that did awesome things to your skin.
Carol looked around furtively even if it was just the two of us in the room. “Have you heard? Grace might not be coming back after she has her baby.”
Grace was the Assistant Finance Director, second only to Mason. If what Carol said was true, it meant that her position would be up for grabs. My hopes rose and then fell back down at the realization that Mason would have the final say. No way would I get that promotion. Not as long as Mason was the Finance Director.
“You could get it you know?” Carol said.
“So could you?” I countered. “You’ve been here the longest.”
She clapped her hands together. “I could but hey, I won’t hold it against you if you do. There’s Thomas too. It could be anyone. This is so exciting.”
I tried to inject some excitement in my voice. “It is,” I said and excused myself.
Back in my office, I kept thinking about the Assistant Finance Director Position. I allowed myself the luxury of fantasizing about it. If I miraculously got it, it would make such a difference in my life.
My dream had always been to own a string of real estate. The townhouse Blaze and I had bought was just the beginning. My grand plan was to supplement and eventually replace my salary with real estate. If I got the promotion, my plans would unfold a lot faster than I had anticipated.
Plans formed in my brain. I would build up my savings again. Take out a mortgage and in essence, own another house. My pulse quickened as I thought about it. I really, really wanted that promotion.
I forced myself back to work. Lunch came around and I went out with the girls as Blaze had a lunch time meeting with clients.
After lunch, my office phone rang and when I picked it, it was Mason, asking me to come to his office.
I strolled down the hallway to his office.
“He’s expecting you,” his secretary said.
One of the perks of an Assistant
Finance Director was a secretary. I grinned as I entered Mason’s office, imagining myself with a secretary. It was a heady thought.
“That’s better,” Mason said smiling. “No man wants to see a sulky girl as you’ve been the last couple of weeks. I like it when you smile and even look pleased to see me.”
My smile faltered. I resisted the urge to tell Mason he wasn’t the inspiration for my smile. I needed to change my attitude towards him if I wanted a crack at the Assistant Finance Director’s post.
“Have a seat,” he said.
I perched at the edge of the visitor’s chair and stared at him.
“Relax, I have good news for you,” Mason said. “Or rather, I hope it will be good at the end of it.”
I smiled politely. Nothing Mason said was ever good news. He’d given me nothing but trouble ever since I started working under him. If I became the Assistant Finance Director, I would be powerful enough to not be under his mercy any more. The Assistant Finance Director usually attended board meetings and that in itself meant the holder of the post had access to the company decision makers.
“I want you to be the first to know that Grace is leaving the company in a couple of months,” Mason said.
I raised my eyebrow in fake surprise. “Yes, she’s going on maternity leave, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” Mason said. “But that’s not the news. What is important for you is that she’s not coming back.”
“Oh.”
“Which means that I’ll be looking for a new Assistant Finance Director,” Mason said, a sly smile on his face. “Are you interested?”
My heart pounded hard against my chest. Of course, I was interested but it wouldn’t do to show Mason just how interested I was. “Shouldn’t it go to someone who has been here longer than I have?”
“It will go to whoever I decide,” Mason snapped.
“In that case, I’m interested,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes. “As you pointed out, there are several people who have a slight advantage over you.”