Layers

by Sigal Ehrlich

  “Are you tired?” He smiles at me, running his fingers through my hair.

  “Well, I did play and have dinner. It’s time for my nap now.” I wink playfully and start picking up our leftovers. He joins me as though it’s a habit for us and we’ve been doing it forever, cleaning together after dinner.

  Putting the last dish in the dishwasher, I turn his way and ask him about his dad, since he only spoke about his mother.

  “He’s not relevant.” There’s a hard edge to his voice, a tone I have learned to recognize. That will be the end of the discussion. What is it? What aren’t you telling me?

  ~~~

  Lying in his too big for one person bed, I gape at him from a gap of the open bathroom door. He is bent, one hand propped over the sink, brushing his teeth, wearing nothing but snug black boxers. I can’t take my eyes off him and his chiseled muscles, standing there tan and sensual. Come on, D, stop with the beauty pampering and get to bed, there’s an urgent need for you here and now.

  “Did you enjoy the view?”

  He loves embarrassing me, the jerk. “I was just making sure you’re okay,” I say, keeping up a casual façade.

  “So you were.” His mouth twists at the side with a smug grin.

  “What have we got here?” Daniel crawls under the covers facing me and sends a hand to caress my waist, settling on my butt, pulling me closer to him. “This is one superb Hayley ass,” he grins.

  “Hmm, don’t get too excited. I have the most terrible headache.” I add an agonized expression to emphasize my misery. His mouth turns to a flat line, eyebrows slightly pushed together; he couldn’t look more disappointed.

  I stare at him for a while. “Relax, kid, your toy is good to go. I’m just messing with you,” I giggle. “You should have seen your face, you were all, ‘my toy is broken, I am so upset’.”

  He laughs and immediately turns serious. “Don’t ever do that again, Hayley. You don’t play with food, and you don’t joke about sex.”

  I laugh deep belly laughs and tease, “Is that so? Are these the house rules?”

  “Come here you, or else you won’t get what you were ogling a minute ago.”

  Jerk. He doesn’t let go. Without further ado he pulls me on top of him.

  “Well, I’ll admit to the ogling, but you’re the one who’s completely ready.”

  Through a wide grin he releases a raspy laugh. “I can’t help it. It’s those damn shorts.”

  “I can always take them off if they’re an issue.”

  “If you put it that way I think all of your clothes are a major issue, Hayley. For fuck’s sake, get rid of all of these issues.”

  “So keen to play?”

  “Take them off already, and let’s work on some burning projects.”

  I giggle again, cooperating.

  ~~~

  I am being spooned by Daniel Stark, sleeping, literally sleeping, in his bed.

  “Good night,” he whispers through my hair and turns to the other side. Why did he turn? I want some more of this Daniel cocooning.

  What the hell? Do I hear right? Daniel recites the AA serenity prayer. What the hell? I am completely freaked out. His voice is low and sincere, almost weary.

  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

  My mind is frantically riling up. What’s going on here? Should I say something? Well, he did recite it loud and clear enough for me to hear. Does he want me to say something?

  “Daniel,” I choke as I try to talk. What should I say? Seriously, should I even address that? I’ve never had to deal with a recovering addict before!

  “Relax kid, your toy is not an addict. I’m messing with you.” He breaks into a healthy, contagious, husky laugh and I quickly join in, utterly relieved.

  JERK. Demented. Handsome. Psycho. He turns back to cradle me and I pull back to minimize the gap between us so he can scoop me up in his firm, serene embrace. He kisses my hair and breathes me in.

  Chapter 17: Nooner

  “Hayley,” Daniel whispers, pressing a soft kiss with his delish scent on my sleepy lips. “Double shot, extra hot, not too much foam cappuccino, wake up.”

  I open my eyes to see Daniel, steamy in boxers, sitting cross-legged at my side, a cup of coffee in his hands. My lips curve with delight.

  “Screw the coffee,” I mumble, stretching out my hand to touch his thigh.

  “I like where you’re going with that.” His hoarse morning voice is accompanied by a wicked, thin smile, tempting me.

  “What’s the time?” I yawn.

  “Seven thirty-ish.”

  “Well, it’ll have to be a quicky. I need to get your car from home.” His smile stretches, and the cup of coffee moves to the nightstand.

  “I’d rather work with ‘quick’ over ‘no go’.” He shifts closer. “Anyhow, it’s not about duration, it’s about quality,” he says, now propped on top of me, a wide smirk stretched across his bristled morning face.

  I gaze at him, elated. What a superb way to wake up …

  “So we’re going for quality over quantity this morning, Miss. Ready, steady, go …”

  I giggle, tilting my head back as he lightly bites my chin. And quality it is.

  Quickly we are deep in the deed and as promised he’s taking his pledge of quality very seriously. Each thrust, each interaction with the very deep of my delight is more enhanced and more intense. His lips are all over me: ears, lips, breasts, neck and those achingly sweet, precise encounters with the spots that make me quiver in pleasure. He definitely knows what he’s doing, and with such remarkable aptitude. I open my eyes to look at him; on his face is a wild look of pleasured concentration that pushes me higher. With his touch and the vision of him above me, those full lips, these unbelievably rough looking scars, I climb higher and higher. In accordance to my body’s reaction, he adapts his pace. The sensation he causes within me with his steady and passionate precision, skillfully aiming at the exact spot, sends me to an overwhelming ecstasy, and as I whimper uncontrollably he joins me with a loud gasp.

  I can’t move. Circles of bliss travel through me. God. I can hardly gain control of my uneven respiration, though, my body, inside and out, is in seventh heaven.

  “Definitely pure, unadulterated quality,” I breathe, shifting my head to look at him.

  His eyes wrinkle with silent joy; his mouth twists into a small, crooked, I-knew-what-I-was-doing grin. I sigh in sheer bliss.

  “Glad to meet expectations.” He pecks my lips, inching up to stand. “Now, coffee, and off we go if we need to pass by your house. Up, Hayley.”

  ~~~

  As I’m waiting for my PC to load, my phone beeps with a new message from Daniel.

  Daniel: Don’t make any plans for the weekend. D.

  God forbid you ask. You’ve certainly got the “demanding” part down. I shake my head in fondness. What can I say? Just the thought of him puts a content, goofy smile on my face.

  Depends, is that an order or a request? H.

  “Hayley, staff meeting in five.” Josh’s Colgate grin illuminates my cubicle.

  “Do you need me before? And good morning to you too, Josh.” I raise my brows and smile at him.

  “Just be there in five, and a wonderful morning to you too.”

  Someone else is in a good mood; perhaps he got the same breakfast special I got earlier. Reminiscing over it, a certain part of my body awakens, wishing Daniel was nearby. My vibrating phone ceases this short reverie.

  “You may make of it whatever you want, but it is an order, baby.”

  “Hello commandant. FYI, I don’t take orders.”

  “Cut this ‘I’m an independent woman I don’t take shit from anyone’ crap. You are coming with me to Baja this weekend, so no plans.”

  Baja, with you? In that case I do with utter obedience take orders, demands, commands and whatever your twisted Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde bipolar personali
ty would request of me.

  “Put it this way: I promise to consider allowing exceptions,” he chuckles.

  “Oh, Hayley, what’s your height?”

  What’s up with this guy? “And this is of interest to you, because?”

  “You’re too short to use any of my boards,” he replies flatly.

  He has such a charming way of conveying information. All of a sudden I feel insecure about my height. “Five foot six. Any other measurements you may need or are we okay now?”

  “Perfect. All the rest I have preciously stored in my memory. You know, I did give you several thorough examinations.” Another short, hoarse chuckle and I can hear in the background that he’s already started another conversation.

  Well, goodbye to you too, from thorough examinations to forgotten in less than a microsecond. I ring him back.

  “Hayley?” Daniel answers in a less-than-patient yet quizzical tone.

  “In modern societies, we humankind wish each other farewell at the end of encounters or conversations with an adequate piece of dialogue.”

  “Goodbye, Hayley,” he snorts.

  I can clearly imagine the eye roll. Goodbye psycho.

  As soon as I put my phone down another short beep tells me I’ve gotten a text, this time from Tasha.

  Tasha: Lunch today? I miss u.

  Lunch today, noon.

  A minute until the staff meeting. I grab my tablet and run to the conference room.

  ~~~

  Walking the hallway of Tasha’s floor, heading to her office to pick her up, I look aimlessly to my left. My glance freezes at a packed meeting room with a group of people looking at a stern and incredibly attractive Daniel Stark. He appears to be presenting something to the attentive group. My heart swells at the sight of him. Only Daniel can teeter my heart by his presence alone.

  Realizing I’m gawking like some creepy stalker I urge myself to proceed. At that same moment Daniel pivots his gaze up and his eyes rest on me. Instantly our stares lock. His eyes narrow in concern as he watches me. He lifts his hand as to signal a break, says something to the group in front of him, then walks to the exit, every single eye in the room following him. I’m not really sure why, I should be used to him by now, but my heart quickens as I watch him minimize the distance between us.

  “Hayley, what’s wrong?” He looks worried.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I just came to pick Tasha up for lunch. I was just on my way to her room.”

  He sighs. In relief?

  “I thought something was wrong and you were looking for me.” He hugs me tight, perhaps too tight, making me gasp. Wow, seriously? A bit overreacting aren’t we?

  “It’s just a coincidence. I saw you on my way to her office and stopped. Sorry if I’ve distracted you,” I say to his ear, still a bit too squeezed against him.

  “You worried me there for a moment.” Hey, no need for drama.

  “Daniel Stark worried, that’s a first for me.” I smile at him.

  “When it comes to you …” He smiles back and turns to kiss me.

  Mmmm, Daniel for lunch. His kiss turns firmer as his hands travel from my waist down.

  “Daniel, you do know we have a room full of people staring at us,” I say, almost out of breath. He turns his head back and turns it again my way. Immediately everyone in the room pretends to be doing anything other than looking at us, from staring intensely at the board, to glancing at each other.

  “Now they don’t.” He beams his impish, thin smile. Of course they don’t, they’re all scared shitless.

  Though it’s the last thing I want to do at that moment, I pull back a little from his hug. “You should go back to your meeting and I should go to mine.”

  “Damn. You’re right, though.” He twists his lips, somewhat annoyed. I inhale him deeply and regret I’ve just said what I said. He bends yet again to kiss me, all searing, intense and stimulating.

  “Keep this up and I won’t let you go due to a health hazard.”

  “Health hazard?” He observes me closely; his eyes dance with mischief.

  “You’ll have to release what you’ve just caused in me. It can be highly harmful keep it bottled up this way,” I say.

  His features harden. “When is your lunch date with Natasha?” His voice is low and serious. Is it me or are you flushing?

  I study him, startled, beginning to comprehend where this is going. Are you seriously insane? Don’t you have a room full of people waiting for you; don’t you have a company to run? Not even waiting for my reply, he lets go of my hand and in two steps he is at the entrance to the meeting room. My eyes grow bigger as I watch him. I can hear him say, “Continue without me, I’ll catch up later.” And just like that, he grabs my hand and directs me to the elevator. God, he’s serious.

  “I would do you right now, here, in this elevator, but there are security cameras in the ceiling.”

  Reflexively I tip my head to look for the cameras. “And no chance in hell I’ll let the horny security guys look at you cum.”

  “Daniel, workplace malfeasance,” I mumble, my body already worked up at what’s about to come.

  “It’s my company, did you forget? I can do whatever the hell I want … And I want to do you.” He winks at me.

  I stare at him, raging inside. A mixture of awe and desire rumbles in my gut. I can’t wait for the damn elevator to reach its destination.

  “Anne, call Natasha Taylor from R&D and tell her to come to my room in twenty,” he says to his PA as we pass by her desk. Twenty? Well, he is busy. I inwardly snicker. He pulls me too rapidly by the hand toward his office. I am so turned on now, all he needs to do is just lay a finger on me and I’ll burst.

  He settles himself on his chair, tugging me to sit astride him and claims my mouth with a kiss that turns my knees to butter.

  “So, you were saying something about a release,” he whispers, nibbling my ear.

  “Release away, Daniel, by all means. Please do.” His pants are pulled down, my skirt lifted up and this thing between us that started with a spark ends in a burning inferno. Shaky and entirely satisfied, resting on a breathing, warm Daniel, I peep at the clock. Tasha should be here any minute.

  Pulling up his pants he mutters, “Skirts are much more convenient. Don’t wear them to work again.” He winks at me and his face lights impishly; I shake my head, grinning. Somehow I wouldn’t be surprised if you were absolutely serious.

  “That was too good of a distraction,” Daniel says casually. “Drop by any time, to be treated for a health condition or for any other matter I can be of help with.”

  His elated face glows at me. I echo his expression.

  “It was my complete pleasure. Thank you so much for the releasing part. I’m pretty positive I’ll take you up on your offer, Mr. Stark.”

  “By all means do, abuse the hell out of this open invite.” Naughty eyes twinkle.

  “Okay now, misbehaving young lady, there’s a meeting I should attend: the one you stole me away from.” He pecks my head and turns on his heels.

  “Daniel,” I call after him as he steps away. He turns his head back to look at me over his shoulder, his eyebrow arched. “Run a hand through your hair or something. It screams just-had-sex.”

  “Better!” He winks again and flashes his megawatt smirk just before walking out the door.

  Chapter 18: Wrong Deed

  The trees shake their leaves above us in the light summer wind; I gaze through my shades at the clear blue summer sky waiting for Tasha to place her order with a short tempered waitress with spiky orange hair. Let the poor waitress be, I think, observing Tasha. She already confirmed just about three times that there are no anchovies in the goddamn Caesar dressing, Tash. I try to telepathically transmit my message to my dear but irritating friend.

  “I would also like mineral water with a third of a glass of ice and some lemon.”

  I inwardly shake my head and smile at the waitress with an empathetic expression that says, “I’d also add b
leach to her drink if I were you.”

  “I’ll take the hummus chicken wrap and ice water, please,” I say, politely.

  “Will that be all?” she asks, looking at me. I nod, giving her my most apologetic grin. She smiles back, frowns at Tasha and leaves toward the kitchen.

  “So, Hales, how have you been? Me and the walls at the crib have been missing you like crazy.” Tasha hardly conquers her smile as she fights to put on a gloomy, desperate expression instead.

  “I do miss our walls, and you too of course. Though I must say I have some pretty great distractions helping me cope with my longing for you.”

  “Bet you do. So you guys are doing well?”

  My goofy smile broadens. “‘Well’ is an understatement.”

  “Stop it with the silly smirk, Hales. People will start thinking you’re an asylum patient on the loose.”

  “Have you talked to Ian lately?” I ask, brushing off some tiny dried petals that have landed on our table.

  “He’s been under the radar with a tourist from Portugal.”

  “So, no Ian till further notice,” I say, matter-of-factly.

  “Not until he gets tired of this one too.”

  We both chuckle. Typical Ian. Tasha sits in front of me in her navy fitted dress, orange stilettos and her dark blue Gucci shades that frame her lovely face. Impeccable as always.

  “So, what have you been up to?”

  She beams at me. I know that smile way too well. Something’s surely up.

  “Would up to no good be an acceptable answer?”

  I lift my sunglasses, resting them on my head, to allow myself a better look at her.

  “Well, what did you do this time?”

  She bites her lower lip and murmurs, “A forbidden deed.”

  “Who? Anybody I know?” My eyes run over her face, trying to guess who it could be.

  “Rob,” she huffs.

  “Rob?” Repeating, I try to search my mind for any Rob we both may know, and fail to think of any.

  “Rob as in my cute geeky boss, Rob,” she explains.

  I nod, immediately conjuring up a mental image of the man in subject. The guy I had the pleasure of meeting at the fundraising event. Really?