by JL Davis
“You really think he can make you as happy as we were?” I laugh and I can see the anger building all over his face that’s now turning red.
“He has showed me how unhappy I really was with you. Not that it’s any of your business, but he is caring, loving and treats me with respect.”
“I did all of those things,” he says furiously.
“Oh really? Fucking my best friend kind of proves differently.” I shake my head and try to get out of his grasp. He doesn’t let up and he’s hurting me.
“That was one time. I’ll never do it again. I made a mistake and I’m trying to fix it. Please let me?” He lets go of my arm and his face has changed to one of regret.
“It’s too late for that, Tyler.” I turn and quickly get in my car, locking the doors. He’s standing there, looking at me and the anger is building again.
“I won’t give up,” he yells before punching the hood of my car.
“You’re an asshole and I want nothing to do with you. Leave me alone,” I scream before speeding away.
On the drive home, I think of how crazy Tyler was acting. My arm still hurts. He’s never laid a hand on me before. I don’t know what has come over him. He’s never made me feel scared. Ever. Is it because I’ve moved on? Does he realize he’s lost any chance of being with me? I don’t know, but he’d better never touch me again. I hope it doesn’t leave a bruise, because if Alex sees it and he asks, I won’t lie to him. I’m not bringing it up though. He has enough to deal with on his own to have something like this as a distraction or an excuse to get out of working on himself. I can handle Tyler on my own.
Chapter Twelve
Alex is picking me up in fifteen minutes. He’s made dinner for me. Since we’re eating in, I pick jeans and a long-sleeve shirt to cover my bruising arm. There’s only one way he’ll see it and that’s only if he gets me naked. I want him too, but I don’t want to ruin our night discussing Tyler. Maybe I can manage to keep my shirt on.
Alex arrives early, as usual. He has a huge smile on his face as I open the door.
“How was your first day?” He seems excited to hear about my day.
“School was good,” I say, trying to sound convincing. He doesn’t buy it at all.
“What happened?” he asks concerned.
“You’ll never guess who’s in one of my classes?”
“I don’t know who? Wait. No! The ex?”
“Ding. Ding. Ding,” I sigh. Alex doesn’t seem happy about this at all.
He frowns. “Did he bother you?”
“He did, but I handled it. He’s just mad that you and I are still together and that I won’t take him back,” I say, leaning in for a kiss. I press myself into him to try and get his mind off Tyler because I don’t want to think about him anymore tonight. I want to have a nice evening with Alex.
It worked. He moans into my mouth and I feel him hardening against my stomach.
“Let’s go before I have my dessert first.”
I grab my purse and keys from the table as we walk out and I close the door behind me, locking it and following Alex to his truck. He opens my door and helps me inside before walking around to the driver’s side. He looks at me before starting the truck. “Jessa I know you said you handled it, but please, tell me if he does anything to make you uncomfortable.”
“I will,” I say, looking out the window. I hate that I didn’t tell him what happened. I don’t need him helping me with this. Tyler can fuck off.
* * *
Alex is a great cook. I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s good at everything he does. He’s prepared a delicious chicken alfredo and homemade garlic bread. He makes our plates and a glass of wine for me. He grabs a beer out of the fridge for himself before sitting with me.
We enjoy our meal and I tell him about my day.
“I even have homework so I can’t stay too long,” I crinkle my face and he smiles.
“Anything I can help you with?”
“It’s basically a report about each level of a business. Each role and what it contributes to a company. If you don’t mind, I’d like to use yours as my example?”
“That would be great,” he smiles.
After we finish the wonderful dinner Alex made we sit on the couch and he gives me a rundown of all the employees and what they do for his company.
“Poor Brittany has so much on her plate. I think you need to go in more often to help her.”
Alex sighs, “You know why I don’t.”
“Yes, I do, but do you think if your employees hated you that they’d be working for you?”
He thinks about it. “I don’t know. I guess not.”
“I really think a lot of this is all in your head. With you being found innocent, I don’t believe people think of you the way you think they do.”
“You weren’t there. You didn’t hear the gasps and the dirty looks I got for months after.”
“No, I wasn’t there. So, basically your personal life was revealed. You and Lizzy weren’t faithful with each other. You also have preferences in the bedroom that she didn’t like. Do you think you’re the only one in this town that doesn’t like it a little kinky? I mean, come on.”
“Lizzy had told her friends and her mother very personal things that she shouldn’t have. They knew too much about how I like to fuck. Now, the whole town knows.”
“So fucking what. Also, if supposedly everyone knows then that means that they know that I obviously like it, too, if I’m with you. Right? I don’t give a fuck what people think. You shouldn’t, either.”
“It was humiliating. They all know that I wanted to tie her up and that I said dirty things to her and it made them think that I must have beaten her, too. After one night, I tried to get her to try it my way and she bruised. It was easy to make them think that I tried to hurt her because she wouldn’t give it to me how I wanted and that she’d eventually trapped me by getting pregnant, causing me to want to kill her. This is a small town, where everyone knows everyone and all the elders talk. They don’t understand anything outside of missionary.” He has tears in his eyes and it makes me sad that he feels this way.
“When you do go out, do you still feel the dirty looks and whispers?” I haven’t noticed any of that. It is all in his head.
He sighs looking resigned, “I don’t know. I just try to keep to myself.”
“I get that your sex life was made public but it’s not like you’re a woman beater. I love how you are in bed. A lot of women would.”
He smiles sadly, “It was so hard going through all that. Lizzy and I were going to try and make it work. I was going to try and let go of my sexual needs for her. She was carrying my child. I did love her. We were going to have a new start and then it was ripped away from me so quickly. Then to be accused of beating her and then killing her because she wouldn’t give me what I wanted or how I wanted it. I had such a hard time with losing her and our child I’ll never know, never hold and to then be made to look like such a monster. I didn’t even have a chance to grieve for them.”
“I’m sorry, Alex. I want to help you through this, but you must try to stop caring what others think. It’s the only way to move on. You’ve been punishing yourself for no reason. You didn’t cause the accident.”
“I know I didn’t. It’s just so fucked up how everything unfolded the way it did.” He considers my eyes and then looks away. “I still miss her, Jessa.”
“Of course you do. She was your wife.”
“I feel guilty for loving you. I don’t know why.” He buries his face in his hands.
I’m not sure what to say to that. He and Lizzy were together for years. I know it must feel weird, being with someone new after all that time being with her. I just want him to be happy. Happy with me. I don’t want him to feel guilty.
“I love you, Alex. I would never ask you to forget your time with Lizzy. I just see how unhealthy it is for you blaming yourself for everything and what everyone thinks. And not everyone feels the way y
ou think they do. I just want you to try and see it. I want you to see that you’re not a bad person in everyone’s eyes, especially mine.” I wrap my arms around him squeezing a bit too tight.
He groans, “Are you trying to squeeze me to death?” He looks up and smiles sweetly. “I love you, too, Jessa. I’m so lucky to have you.”
That’s what I want. I don’t want him torturing himself anymore.
“Wanna start back on your report?”
“Sure.” I grab my papers off the coffee table. “I’m to sales now.”
* * *
Alex finishes giving me information about his company and I help clean up from dinner and then he drives me home. He was somewhat distant after our conversation. I hope it doesn’t affect his progress. I’m trying so hard to help him move forward. With me.
Now, I’m lying in bed, thinking about my day. It was a crazy, to say the least. Tyler had better not talk to me or ever touch me again. He scared me with how he acted today. I’ve never seen him like that before. He’s never been physical with me in all the years we were together. He better be glad I didn’t tell Alex about it. I’m not sure what Alex would have done. I don’t want to find out, either.
* * *
I feel a lot better walking into school this morning. I haven’t seen Tyler and I’m glad. I’m sure he’s lurking around somewhere. I see Julie and wave, walking towards her.
“Hi!”
“Hi, Jessa! Want to walk to class together?”
“Sure,” I smile.
“Did you get the report finished last night?”
“I did. I used my boyfriend’s business as my example. How about you?”
“Yes. I used the company my dad works for.”
We take a lot of notes in our first class. It seems to go by fast. We stay very busy, compared to the second one. It’s a bit more laid back and there’s more interaction with each other. I like that about it.
Julie and I have lunch together, chatting about class. I still haven’t seen Tyler. It’s a good thing too. I enjoyed my lunch and I want to keep it down.
We walk into our next class and I see Tyler sitting at the table in front of ours, looking at his phone. He looks weird. He’s pale and seems tired. Maybe he stayed up too late playing video games, or maybe he’s sick. The later makes me smile. I hope he has a stomach bug.
He glares at me and I act like I don’t notice him as I walk past him and take my seat.
Julie turns to me, “What’s your boyfriend’s business?”
“He owns a construction company not too far from here. It’s doing very well.”
Julie smiles and looks at the back of Tyler’s head. I shake my head, knowing exactly what she’s doing and can’t help but grin at her attempt to make him jealous.
We each had to present our report of the businesses we chose. I think I did well. I wasn’t shocked that Tyler used his mother’s daycare for his report. She probably did it for him.
My phone dings with a text message from Alex, instantly causing me to smile. He’s asking me to meet him at his office after school. I’m a bit shocked he’s there. I send a text back and now I can’t wait for the bell to ring so I can see him. I hope everything’s okay.
Chapter Thirteen
I pull in to the parking lot and get out. Closing my door, I feel like something’s off. Something is not right. I scan the parking lot and see nothing other than a couple of company trucks on one side. Alex’s and Brittany’s are on the other. I look at the street and see what looks like Tyler’s car parked across the street. I start walking toward the road, to enter the front of the building and see it is Tyler, and he’s watching me. He looks angry and then speeds away. Did he follow me? Is he stalking me now? What the hell? I don’t know what I should do. Should I tell Alex? Now Tyler knows where Alex works. I don’t know how I feel about that.
I try to shake the weird feeling and walk in; I smile when I see Brittany at her desk.
“Holy shit. Your desk looks like a tornado hit it.”
“Tell me about it. I need some organizing,” she says, wiggling her eyes. “Do you know anyone?”
“I do and she’s awesome,” I brag, causing Brittany to laugh.
“What are you doing here?”
“Alex asked me to come after school. Is everything okay?”
“Yes. Fine. I’m not sure why he’s here. It was a shock to me. He grabbed a couple stacks of files from my desk and has been in his office ever since.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“You mean there was actually more clutter on your desk?” She flips me off and laughs.
“I really will help you, if you want me to?”
“That would be great. Alex’s office is right down there, to the left.” She points down the hall.
“Thanks. I’ll be back soon to help with this chaos.” I wave my hands above her desk. I’m sure it’s under there somewhere.
I knock on Alex’s door. “Come in.”
I open the door and he smiles, getting up from his desk and walking around it to greet me. He seems happy. “Everything oka?” I kiss him.
“Yes. Someone helped me see I need to get past my fears and I need to be a bigger part of my company. You should’ve seen Brittany’s face when I walked in,” he laughs.
“That must be a smart person you’re listening to.”
“Oh, she is very smart and beautiful too.” He kisses me. I open for him, his tongue dipping inside, meeting my own. He presses himself against me, holding me close. I pull away to catch my breath, searching his face. “You sure are happy today. I’m so proud of you.”
“I thought a lot about what you said last night. When I came in today and saw Brittany’s desk, I realized I hadn’t been fair to her, my company, or you. I want to do better. I want to overcome all these fears I have.”
“You have no idea how happy that makes me, to hear you say that. I’m so proud of you. I love you,” I crush my mouth to his.
“I love you, too,” he mumbles between my lips, pushing me against the door and pressing himself into me. I can feel that he wants me. I moan into his mouth.
“Um. We’re in your office,” I whisper.
“Why are you whispering?” he laughs.
“I don’t know. Brittany is here.”
“She’s up front, working. I haven’t seen her since I walked in this morning. She’s busy anyway.” He says, lifting my shirt over my head.
“I don’t know. What if she hears us?”
“I guess we’ll have to be quiet, won’t we?” He wiggles his eyebrows. He looks so silly when he does it and I love it.
I’m contemplating what to do when he drops to his knees. He pulls my jeans and panties down with one fast tug, causing me to gasp. I cover my mouth quickly. Seeing him on his knees in front of me does me in. He looks up at me for permission. I can’t deny him. It’s too late now. I want it. I want his tongue on me. He can by the arousal in my eyes that he’s won. He smiles licking his lips before he kisses my pelvic bone. I grab his hair, pulling him closer to me. He looks up at me and licks from my entrance all the way up to the top of my clit where he had just kissed me. My head falls back against the door and my eyes close. He grips my ass, pulling me away from the door. He stands and I whimper.
“I can be quiet,” I plead.
He leads the way and gently pushes me backwards until I’m lying on his cold desk. My back instantly arches. He kneels again and licks me like I’m an ice cream cone, melting in one-hundred-degree weather. I’m biting my bottom lip, trying not to be loud. It’s hard to be quiet. I don’t like it. I want to focus on the pleasure he’s giving me, but I’m too worried Brittany, or someone else, will hear us… well, me.
I’m so close. A few more strokes and I feel my legs begin to shake. He places his tongue firmly over my clit and sucks. I bite my lip so hard I can taste blood as my orgasm slams through me. He’s holding my legs apart licking lightly as I fall back down.
Alex stands, wiping his mouth on his dress shirt an
d winks at me. I can’t move. My legs feel like Jell-O. I’m still panting, trying to catch my breath.
“You look so sexy, naked and spread out on my desk. I will take a mental picture of this and imagine you there each morning.
“You’re going to come in every day now?” I smile, waiting for his reply. He hadn’t realized what he’d said, I guess.
“Yes. I think I should. It is my company and I need to be present and more involved,” he nods as if he’s telling himself, and not just me. “Baby, your lips are bleeding.” I start to look around for a tissue, when he leans forward, kissing me hard. He finally pulls back, and I am panting. He smirks, “All gone now.”
“How else was I going to be quiet?” I wipe my lips a few times smiling. “So, is this why I was summoned to come here?” Pun intended, I wink.
“I was working, and it actually felt good to be back here. That got me to thinking about why I needed to be here.” He took a moment to compose his thoughts. “It was you, and everything you’d said last night. You were right, I needed to face my fears. Nathan, who’s in sales came in. He was confused at first, because my light was on, and he came in to see why.” He shook his head and laughed. “He said he was shocked as shit to actually see me here in the flesh. I told him why, I was basically a ghost here, and he ended up saying a lot of the same things you did.
“He sounds like a smart guy,” I smile getting my clothes back on. Alex watches my every movement.
“He is. He’s very good at his job. We had become good friends until everything happened. You know how guys are. We’re not all mushy, and never talk about feelings, so he gave me my space, and we kept things professional.”
A knock at the door has me scurrying to finish getting dressed. I hastily button my jeans and run my fingers through my hair, so it looks semi-presentable. Alex looks me over and nods. I nod back and smile, embarrassed.
“Come in.”
Brittany strolls in. “What’s going on?” Brittany takes one look at the both of us and holds up her hands, “Never mind. Don’t tell me. I don’t wanna know.” She drops a file on Alex’s desk. “Here’s the Peterson’s material order for you to sign off on for Friday. If you sign it before you leave, I can fax it back over before the end of the day.” She gives me a wink on her way out the door. “Oh, and brush the back of your hair,” she yells over her shoulder right before she shuts the door. I turn around feeling the heat in my face. Alex is fucking laughing.