by Nana Malone
Oh hell yes. He nodded desperately. “Let’s just clear the air, I will never say no to you wanting to put your mouth on me.”
With a laugh, she slid off the desk and got down on her knees, holding his shaft firmly in her soft hands. She looked up into his eyes as she teased the tip of his cock with her tongue. Nick was ready to explode. Her mouth was warm and slippery as she sucked hard and moved as far down as her mouth would let her. Oh hell. He let out a guttural moan. “Oh shit, Selena, you’re so good at that. You need to stop or I’m not sure I can hold off.”
“You don’t have to,” she whispered before picking up the pace. She took him deep, to the back of her throat, then she relaxed the muscles and took him even deeper. Oh fuck. Where the hell had she learned—never mind, he didn’t want to know where she learned to do that. All he cared about was that she was his. For this time, for this moment, she was his.
His woman was working his cock. His woman was making the shivers of heat slip along his spine. His woman was completely owning him.
She pumped the base of his cock with her hand while she sucked until he exploded, every muscle in his body going rigid as he fisted his hands in her hair and tried to hold her still.
He collapsed back against the desk, desperate to catch his breath. Selena kissed back up his chest and he tucked her head against him for a long moment, just relishing the opportunity to hold her.
He picked her up and lay her on the desk once more, parting her legs and whispering, “Your turn. I can’t wait to taste you again.”
Selena watched him intently with an impish smile playing across her lips. But she lay back as he instructed and when his hot tongue licked thirstily at her folds she sank her fingers into his hair and moaned his name. He was on a mission. He wanted her to remember that night in Paris. He wanted her to remember how he could make her feel. He gave her what he knew she wanted. He flicked her with the tip of his tongue over and over sending her over the edge and into ecstasy. Like that night in Paris, he let a finger trail over the seam of her ass to the tight pucker. This time she froze.
“Nick?”
“Shhh. Did you like this last time?”
“I—I, Oh God, yes.”
“Good. That’s good to know. I only want to do things you like.” He pressed gently and she tensed. He eased back immediately. “I only want to make you feel good.”
“I know. I just—I don’t know how to let go.”
Nick licked his lips and eased her back spreading her legs and making sure he focused on what made her feel good. He lapped at her, focusing most of his attention on her clit. She bucked against him, short choppy breaths tearing out of her.
Gently, Nick slid his middle finger inside her slick heat and she bowed her back. This time when he grazed her asshole with his thumb, she didn’t tense. Instead, she widened her thighs. His thumb gently teased the sensitive skin with her juices. When his thumb slid inside easily, he sucked on her clit…hard. She started shaking even as her pussy and ass clamped down around his fingers. He didn’t slow his motions. Just kept going until another orgasm ripped through her.
“Oh my God, Nick,” she exclaimed breathlessly as she climaxed, “More, oh God, more.”
He only eased up when her body went slack. She let out a huge sigh and placed her hands over her face as her body relaxed.
He pulled her up to a sitting position and hugged her face tight into his chest. How could he carry on as only her employee? Her traitor employee at that? He wanted it all. He wanted her. All the time. Which was the worst thing to want right now.
11
Selena’s face was still flushed as she sat at her desk that afternoon. A low churning sensation swirled in her stomach. What had she done? One night in Paris could be written off as an experience, but to go down on the guy at work, that was something else altogether. And then, what he’d done to her. Holy shit. She’d never done that before. She swung her office chair around to face the large window behind her desk, placing her hands on her hot cheeks.
“Get it together.” Why was it the one person she’d wanted in so long she couldn’t even remember, had to work for her? Or maybe it didn’t matter. Bullshit. It mattered. What the hell would her brother say? She shuddered. It was better not to think of Simon.
Her intercom buzzed. It was Nancy. “Selena? I’ve just had an email requesting the projections. Are they ready for sending?”
Selena raised her eyes to the ceiling and groaned. She pressed the button to reply. “Give me half an hour.” She took a deep breath and picked up her desk phone.
“Marco? Can you come to my office immediately? Bring David too. I need help to turn something around right away.”
She slammed the receiver down with a curse. This was not her style. Selena Day never asked for help. What was happening to her?
Later that night Dee arrived at Selena’s apartment, laden with wine and tortilla chips.
“What’s the emergency?” Dee asked as she kissed Selena’s cheek at the door.
“I just need an ear,” Selena said, the corners of her mouth turned down.
“You’re in pajamas? At seven o’clock? That’s not like you,” Dee said, giving her friend the once over.
“I feel like shit,” Selena admitted.
“Do you have a cold, or tummy bug?” Dee asked, taking a step backwards.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe,” Selena said. “Unless being a total screw up is contagious.”
Dee laughed. “That is a phrase I would never associate with you.” She took off her coat and moved through to Selena’s kitchen to find two wine glasses. She poured drinks, edged one towards Selena and said, “Okay. Tell me everything.”
Selena opened her mouth and the whole sordid story spilled out. She told Dee about Paris and about being distracted at work.
“I had to call an emergency meeting to get the job done,” Selena said with a pained expression. “The job that I should have whipped into shape myself, in no time. That never happens. I’m worried I’m slipping off course. All because I’m letting some guy get me hot under the collar. It’s pathetic.”
Dee sucked in a breath before answering her friend’s plea for help. “You are so hard on yourself it’s unreal. So you got a little naked with this Nick guy. Great. But you weren’t able to finish all your work on time and you needed help. That’s normal, isn’t it? People do that all the time. Bosses usually delegate the whole lot and are never seen churning the numbers the way you do. Maybe this is a wake-up call. Do you really need to be responsible for absolutely every detail? Surely that’s what staff are for. It’s still your project if you don’t complete every part yourself.”
Selena tried to listen. She let out a long breath and watched her wine swirl around as she made circles with her glass.
“You might be right,” she eventually said. “It just feels awful to give up complete control. Like I’m failing.”
Dee put an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “You need a private life too, honey. In fact a little more private, would help.” She giggled. “I can’t believe you did that at work.”
Selena flushed and laughed, covering her face with one palm. “I know. Imagine if Nancy had walked in. Jesus.”
The two of them laughed. Dee pretended to be Nancy hanging around in the dark room asking to watch, which had Selena bent over laughing and clutching her stomach.
“You know what you should do,” Dee said, excitement shining in her eyes. “You should host a work happy hour sort of thing. You know, at the end of the day, bring in a load of food and drink for everyone. Loosen up a bit. Show them you’re not a corporate robot.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Selena said, turning her head to the side in thought. “That could be fun. Maybe I do need to show them the other side of me.” She stared into space for a moment before turning to Dee and adding, “Maybe being with Nick wouldn’t be the disaster I think it would. Maybe we could keep work and our relationship separate. Hell, I’m the bloody boss, if
anyone has a problem with it, then tough. It might be good to be seen chatting with him so that if we do end up together it’s not a total shock.”
Her eyes sparkled with the realization that she really was in charge of her own business. Professionally and between the sheets.
12
“Nick, there are some guys in my flat,” his mother said in rushed tones. “They said they’ll be back tonight if you don’t get in touch with some guy called Simon. What’s going on, son? You’re not in trouble are you? You’ve always been so sensible. Am I in danger?”
Nick bit his lip and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was at his desk. He lowered his head and spoke as quietly into the phone as he could without whispering. “Get them the hell out of there now. Tell them I’ll call Simon.”
“Jesus, Nick. Is this to do with Chris?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m on it, okay? Just get rid of them now, and lock your door.”
He let out a deep sigh. Marnie swiveled round in her chair. “Everything all right Nick?”
“Yeah, just, family.” He rolled his eyes.
“Tell me about it,” Marnie said, mirroring his eye roll. “My family is driving me nuts. My sister’s getting married in two weeks and she’s turned into Bridezilla, freaking out about table decorations and stuff. So, I know how you feel.”
Nick smiled. You have no idea how I feel. I’d have Bridezilla any day, compared to a wanted drug addict brother and being forced to deceive the woman I want to be with.
He sighed. He was stuck between a rock and a Simon-shaped place. He was going to have to toe the line and get this over with before someone got hurt. If he created some convincing files to fob Simon off with, without giving away Selena’s precious Parisian project, then there might still be a way of surviving this.
He clicked ‘new file’ and began searching for images of Parisian women online. He copied and pasted them onto the blank page and typed notes around them, building ideas for a fake new UK line called ‘Ooh la la.’ Oh come on Nick, you can do better than that. That’s too obvious. He deleted it and smoothed his fingers over the light layer of stubble on his chin as he strung words together. ‘Paris Girl’. Too bland. ‘Glamour Madame’ ugh, too much like the name of a brothel. ‘Make it Mademoiselle,’ that was more believable as a title. Shit, maybe he actually should pitch this as a real idea to Selena instead. But then where would that leave Chris? And Mum? Hell, this was one sordid mess. He built up a convincing-looking pitch to fob Simon off. Hopefully, it wouldn’t have too much of a knock-on effect on Selena and the team. After all, their work in France was still safe. It shouldn’t be touched by Simon’s grubby little paws.
It was nearing the end of the day. Nick looked up automatically when he heard the familiar click of Selena’s office door and he watched her stride out with a big grin on her face before announcing to everyone, “Right people. Down tools. We are having a happy hour.”
Confused whispers circulated the office and Selena added, “Seriously. Let’s get drinking.”
As if on cue, a small team of catering delivery staff entered the office with crates of beer, bottles of wine and boxes of finger food. Selena set about opening the boxes and handing out plates and glasses from open boxes.
“We’ve all been working hard,” she said. “I figured we could let off a little steam.”
There were whoops and cheers as people stampeded the makeshift buffet table and a party atmosphere erupted.
Nick smiled and caught Selena’s eye. They shared what felt like a secret smile for a moment.
“Music?” Selena asked brightly, plugging a small speaker into her phone and selecting a party mix from a streaming music website. “I’ve got a DJ at my fingertips,” she said with a smile.
Several girls from the team crowded her, smiling and passing each other plastic wine glasses. Selena unscrewed the first bottle. “Yeah, it’s just screw tops,” she said, “I didn’t say it was posh happy hour.”
“A drink’s a drink.” Someone shouted over the happy chatter. “Get those bottles open.”
Nick had never seen Selena so relaxed in boss mode. She always had a good rapport with everyone on every floor, from the cleaners to the mailroom staff, but she usually maintained an air of authority. Yet here she was, handing out beers and calling other departments to come and join in, with an enormous grin on her face, which lifted her cheekbones and made her even more beautiful. How had he considered her merely pretty in the beginning? Nick watched her in command, happily coordinating her impromptu party as he stood to leave his desk and join the team.
A blond woman, wearing a black mini skirt and a white blouse, which was so tight it looked as if the buttons were ready to burst at her breasts, suddenly approached him, holding a brown envelope. “Are you Nick?” she asked.
“That’s me,” he said, his frown deepening.
“I thought so. I didn’t think there could be two handsome male model types in one office,” she replied, eyeing him up and down.
She sat on the edge of his desk with a grin. “I have something for you.” She pulled a small folded note out of the envelope and put it on Nick’s desk, crossing her legs in a very deliberate over the top way, flashing him her panties. He put one foot forward, ready to leave, he wasn’t going to stand here and let some flirty messenger girl piss on his party, but the blonde placed a hand firmly on his shoulder and giggled. “Where are you going, handsome? Maybe we could grab one of those drinks together. Simon never said you were so hot.”
The realization that the note must be from Simon shot through Nick’s blood like ice cold water. He had to get rid of this flunkie and get to Selena. He could see her eyeing this whole desk flirtation episode from afar with suspicion and he was beginning to sweat.
“Keep your voice down, for God’s sake,” he said in a whisper.
“Ooh, touchy,” she said, a little too loudly. She picked up the note and slid it into his hand, taking grip of his fingers as she did. She rose from sitting on the desk and pressed her body against his before saying, “You don’t want to get me into trouble. I’m only a messenger. Unless you want me to be more.” She put one hand up to touch his face and Nick looked over at Selena as she gave him daggers and turned her back on him to talk to Nancy.
He shoved the blonde’s hand off and walked over to join the rest of his colleagues, and Selena. His mouth was dry. He wanted to tell her it was nothing, but what the hell would he say? He couldn’t tell her about the note. And she would kill him for making a scene in front of the team. What he had with her was fragile enough without making a show of it and embarrassing her.
The blonde walked towards the door, shooting a smile and a wave at Nick. “Maybe another time, Nicky. I’ll be back.”
When he looked up, his gaze met Selena’s. Gone was the happy look he was used to seeing. Now she was guarded, shuttered.
The party was fizzling out in the open plan office. Selena could hear chuckles and rustling as a few girls were gathering up plates and cups into garbage bags. Her taste for fun had soured after Nick’s encounter and she had gritted her teeth for the rest of the party, trying to keep things as light as possible. The last thing she wanted was to look like an uptight bitch at her own drinks session. After a couple of glasses of wine, she felt it was safe to escape to her office, and there she was, alone and seething. How could she have been so wrong about him?
Selena paced her office, arms folded.
What did you think? That he was in love with you? You sleep with him the first time you are alone together and you’re suddenly surprised to see he’s a player. The guy has serious sexual skill. Of course he’s a player.
And she was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She picked up her mobile and called Dee.
“Dee, can you talk right now? You won’t believe what I just saw. That bloody asshole took a woman’s number, at least I think it was her number, it was a note anyway. He’s nothing but a player.”
There was a pause and a sigh. “I c
an’t really talk right now,” Dee said. “I’m at the hospital with Roger’s mum. We think she’s on her way out. The cancer’s spread so much.”
Selena took a sharp intake of breath. “Oh Dee, I’m so sorry. I’ve been such a shit friend. You never said it was getting worse. Did Dr. Mathews help?”
“Yeah, Lena. Thank you for sorting us out with him. We know he’s the best in London, but even he can’t work miracles. It’s too late now. I never said anything because I’ve been in denial. I didn’t want to believe it.”
Selena’s chest ached for her friend. “Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all.” She would put Nick and her own pain, and memories of pleasure, out of her mind. He was bad news. A mistake. That’s all it was.
13
Since the day of the party, Nick hadn’t been able to get Selena off of his mind. He couldn’t eat. And sleep? Well, that was not happening. She sure as shit wasn’t talking to him. He’d called, texted. And at the office, she avoided him. Not that he could blame her. It must have looked shitty that day at the office happy hour—happy being the ironic word. He had been as far removed from happy as a pig being washed and blow-dried.
Let her go. You have work to do. Tired or not, Nick still had to keep on track with his future plans. He had missed a few lectures recently, so he dragged his tired ass to an evening class to catch up. After the hour of corporate law was over, his tutor called out to him as the class was moving in a crowd towards the door.
“Nick, have you got a minute?”
“Yes, Steve,” he said, rubbing his jaw. Had he failed his last essay? He knew he hadn’t been putting in enough effort, what with Paris and thoughts of Selena, plus Chris. His concentration was being pulled in too many directions. He was never the sort to play the victim, but maybe this time he had taken on too much. Maybe the great Nick Harvey wasn’t completely indestructible after all.
“It’s just, you’ve been a bit distracted lately,” his lecturer said, frowning and parking his butt on the edge of his desk, arms folded, in a half-standing half-sitting position. “Is everything all right?”