by Amy Brent
I was losing myself to her, and I had no idea what to do about it.
“Holy fuck, L. That was—amazing. Thank you.”
I looked up at her and simply marveled at my work. Her chest was flushed and her face was covered in a light sheen of sweat. Her hands were trembling at her sides and her lungs were gasping for air.
In that moment, I hated my job. I hated that I would have to hide the way I felt about this beautiful woman in order to protect my company. I hated that I would have to hide our relationship in order for her career to not be jeopardized.
I hated that she had to be a secret.
I ripped the rest of the clothes off my body and crawled up her before I plunged deep into her depths. I wanted to drink up every part of her while she laid there, helpless to my attack while I wracked her body with pleasure. I wanted her to cry out as much as she could, until she was hoarse and couldn’t speak. I wanted to defile every part of her, just to hear my name fall from her lips.
Because when we got back home, we couldn’t.
We wouldn’t have this freedom, and it killed something inside me.
“You like that dick?” I asked, panting. “You like the way it fills you up?”
“Oh, God, L. Please don’t stop. Give me all of it, baby. Please. Oh—oh, fuck.”
I sat back on my heels and threw her legs over my shoulders, then groaned, feeling her juices trickle down my balls. I loved how wet she got for me—how her body yielded to me so effortlessly whenever my cock pulsed for her. Her walls massaged me perfectly and I hardened for her, bending her in half while I fucked her deep into the mattress.
So deep she couldn’t move.
Her tits bounced in my face and I lapped at them, wanting to taste her skin while I pounded deep into her hips. The ocean breeze fluttered across our bodies, blowing the sheer curtains out so far they tickled the backs of my feet. I pressed my lips into hers, smirking at her helpless panting while I took what I knew was mine.
What I wanted to be mine in ways I’d never experienced before.
“So close. So close. So close.”
Her breathless chants spurred me on, causing my balls to curl up into my body. Her legs trembled and her toes curled, and I could see the pleasure she wanted so badly waft over her face.
“Cum for me,” I said, grunting. “Say my name.”
“L. L. Oh, holy sh—Ellison. Holy fuck, Ellison. Ell—i—son!”
I buried myself deep into her pussy, just as her body let go. Her pussy clamped down onto me harder than I’d ever felt before, sucking me deeper and deeper into her body as her legs slid from my shoulders. My body collapsed, my lips crashed down and capturing hers as we heaved for air. I could feel our juices running out from her throbbing pussy, flooding the bed below us while our tongues danced, still desperate for one another.
I knew—in the back of my mind—that when Monday came along, I’d be glad I agreed to this. I knew I’d walk into the office and Michael would realize something was different, and I’d be glad we had this secretive agreement. I knew my company and everything I’d built would be better off with this being a secret.
But, there was still that tightening sensation in my chest that wished we didn’t have to lie.
I felt Charlie smile into me before I slowly pulled out from between her legs, and I slid down to lay my head on her stomach. Her hands mindlessly ran through my hair, causing my eyes to flutter closed while the sound of the ocean serenaded us to sleep. The fluttering of my heart told me just how much I’d lost to this woman. This woman who worked for me, who had dreams and ambitions equal to mine. This woman who was a shark in the boardroom and a sexual partner unmatched in my considerable experience.
But, I finally realized what the tightening of my chest was, and I was so glad Charlie’s breaths were evening out in sleep, because I could no longer hold back the shaking of my body as I held back my tears.
Guilt.
I felt guilty for having to hide this.
In one fell swoop, I had become a hypocrite. In one fell swoop, I had become the man I’d never wanted to be. In one fell swoop, I had not only started an illicit relationship with an employee, but I had encouraged it to become a full-fledged relationship, and it was that selfishness that would sink us.
It was that selfishness within me that would lead to broken hearts for both of us.
Because I knew this couldn’t continue.
Not if I wanted my company to succeed.
Chapter 18
Charlie
I sat on my couch, going over the weekend in my head when my doorbell rang. I still couldn’t believe what I was doing with L, and part of me knew I was in over my head.
But, the racket at the door pulled me away from any further thought.
“Go away,” I called out.
“Charlie, come on,” Rick said. “Open the door.”
I sighed, rolling my eyes before I got off the couch. I wanted to be left with my thoughts, but I knew if I didn’t open the door he wouldn’t actually go away.
“What, Rick?” I asked.
“Let me come in for a second,” he said.
Before I could answer, he pushed his way past me and started calling out for Johnson. My cat came running from the other room, jumping into his arms while he sat on the ground playing with him, and the only thing I could do was stare.
“You know, jet-setting around the world looks good on you, Charlie. But, you really should give me a key to this place so I can come check on this little guy,” he said.
“As you can see, Johnson is fine. And, thanks for the compliment,” I said.
“I haven’t seen you this radiant in, well—ever, really. You’re all tan and glowing. Who knew business trips could be so fun?” he asked.
I knew he was fishing. He was wondering what this latest trip was about, and I didn’t want to tell him. I didn’t want to tell him what was going on, and even if I did, I couldn’t.
After all, what L and I were doing was still wrong.
“Were you alone?” he asked.
“On a business trip? Nope. It’s unsafe to travel by yourself,” I said.
“Ah, a company with a buddy system. How convenient,” he said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, bending down and taking Johnson from his arms.
“Where’d you head off to this time? Back to Finland or wherever?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but we were actually in the Bahamas,” I said.
“Doesn’t really sound like a business trip to me,” he said.
“It is when you have work to do in the Bahamas. But, yes, I did indulge in some of the sights.”
I could tell jealousy was rising up in Rick’s body, and I wondered if telling him I was seeing someone would help. He needed to move on, and he needed to understand that I had, too. I mean, I didn’t have to tell him who it was—after all, that was none of his business. But, if L and I were going to attempt a relationship—albeit, a secretive one—I’m sure he wouldn’t take kindly to some other single guy being in my apartment anyway.
“I’m seeing someone, Rick,” I said.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m seeing someone.”
“That who you were in the Bahamas with?” he asked.
“No,” I said, lying. “But, I know that you come around here partially because you think we’re gonna get back together.”
“I do not,” he said.
“Rick,” I said, sighing, “I’m seeing someone.”
“I heard you the first time,” he said.
“And I need you to understand that the guy I’m dating probably isn’t going to like—”
“What went wrong with us, Charlie?” he asked.
“Rick—”
“No, I’m serious. What happened?”
“You know exactly what happened, Rick. We just took two different paths. I was working to try and better myself, and you were just sort of okay with whatever,” I said.
“And that’s supposed to be a good reason to break up with someone? What about all the good times we had together?” he asked.
“Rick, every couple has good times, that’s how they get to be a couple in the first place. And, yeah, we had fun at the parties and stuff. But, I had to put the parties behind me. I had to grow up and find my way in life. College wasn’t all there was to life, and you just didn’t understand that,” I said.
I was hoping if I spoke to him clearly and plainly, he would get it. I was hoping if I didn’t talk around things and pray he read between the lines anymore, it would make this easier.
Unfortunately, all it did was make him angrier.
“I treated you well, Charlie. I gave you things no other man could,” he said.
“Rick, we weren’t right together. You needed someone who had the ability to support themselves and party with you. I didn’t have that ability. Not with where I wanted to take my career.”
“But, why did you leave me, Charlie? Why did you desert me? I just don’t understand it!”
“Rick, I’m not going over this anymore. I gave you the answers to your questions, and I don’t have anything else to say. We ran our course, and eventually we weren’t a good match any longer. There are other women, you’ll find someone, but not if you’re still having ideas about us,” I said.
“Yeah, like you found someone,” he said. I could hear the fire in his voice and I started to become uncomfortable with him in my apartment. In that very moment, I found myself wishing L was here, but I knew he couldn't be.
I knew he never would be.
“It’s time for you to go, Rick,” I said, going over to my door and standing by it.
“You really should think about giving me a key so someone can keep an eye on your cat while you go on your business trips,” he said, with a hint of sarcasm in the voice.
“The kennels will do just fine if I need someone. Goodbye, Rick.”
He huffed, storming out the door before I closed it, locking both the main lock and the door. Even though I stood my ground and wasn’t afraid of Rick, I could still feel myself shaking. I dropped Johnson back on his feet and threw myself onto the couch, and just as quickly as Rick had appeared, he fell from the forefront of my mind.
The image of L’s body filled my head once again.
Chapter 19
Ellison
I knew Michael would get suspicious the moment I stepped into the office. I was aware of the tan that I’d obtained in the Bahamas over the weekend, as well as the spring that was in my step. I tried my hardest to act normal and pretend as if nothing had changed, but the truth of the matter was that everything had changed. Everything. I told Charlie it would be best if we tried to stay away from one another for a couple of days until our tans died down a bit from the beach, but the only thing I could think about was how much I missed her already.
“Alright, L. Let’s cut the crap. Who is she and why are you keeping her a secret?”
“Hmm?” I asked.
“Put your files down and look at me,” Michael said.
“I’ve got way too much work to do to stop and indulge your sixth sense,” I said.
“It’s not a sixth sense. You’re tanner, which means you’ve been in the sun; you’re talking taller, which means you were probably in the sun with someone you enjoyed; and you were wide awake without your traditional two cups of coffee this morning. I haven’t even seen you get your afternoon cup of tea yet. Who is she and what does she look like?” he asked.
“Her name is ‘the project in the Bahamas,’ and she’s coming along nicely,” I said.
“Wait, you were in the Bahamas? And you didn’t update me on the project?” he asked.
“Nothing really to update, Mike. They’re still excavating the land and leveling it out a bit more. I don’t want it to just be luxurious, I also want it to be easy to navigate. People are lazy today. They don’t wanna walk hills.”
“And they’re on board with the designs?” he asked.
“They’re on board with whatever I tell them,” I said. “I’ll probably make another trip in the next three weeks or so. You gonna harass me about screwing the construction workers then, too?”
“It is possible for you to go to the Bahamas and work before you get yourself a little playtime in. You’re too happy to not be getting laid. Why aren’t you fessing up?” he asked.
“Because there’s nothing to fess up to,” I said.
“You screw an islander?” he asked.
“No, Michael.”
“A married woman?”
“No!”
“A cougar?” he asked.
“I’m not playing this game with you, Michael,” I said.
“So, why won’t you tell your best friend who you’re fucking?” he asked.
“If it will make you feel better, then yes, I’m fucking someone,” I said.
“I knew it! What’s she like? She went to the Bahamas with you, didn’t she?”
“First, that would be unprofessional. Never mix business and pleasure,” I said, feeling a pang of guilt bubble up in my gut.
“Fine, fine, fine. The tan’s ‘from work.’ Got it. Is her pussy tight? You’ve got a nice little pep in your step, which means you’re probably going back for more.”
“We’re trying to figure things out,” he said. “She doesn’t want the attention with what her career entails and that’s just fine with me. A nice romp here and there without the necessary dinners is a nice change from the bitch gold diggers I’m usually with.”
“Dude, come on. I’ve gotta know. What woman in their right mind doesn’t wanna be wined and dined by the legendary Ellison James. She’s gotta be a bit nutso, right?” he asked.
“Drop it, Michael. I respect her enough to honor her wishes,” I said.
“Holy cow, she must have a very tight pussy. She got you on a leash and everything.”
“Don’t you have some work somewhere that I pay you to do?” I asked.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it can wait until I’m done harassing you.”
“Not if you wanna keep your job,” I said, murmuring.
“Alright, L. Enough for now, but I’m not done with you yet,” he said.
“Funny. That’s just what she told me,” I said, winking.
“Man, that’s just not cool. Now I wanna know even more,” he said.
“You will, if and when we both agree on it.”
I had to get this paperwork done for the meeting I had this afternoon. I told Charlie she didn’t need to be there, since it was just a meeting with all the VPs, but I actually didn’t want her there because a couple of my VPs were female. Women were always good at sniffing out that kind of thing, and I really didn’t wanna take the chance that one of them would latch on to the fact that we had matching tans.
I walked into the boardroom with a few figures drawn up, ready to introduce them to the final piece of the project. I still hadn’t formally announced which hotel setup we were going with, and I wanted to hold off on the meeting until I had all the figures. I passed out folders with images, schematics, blueprints, and possible numbers, then walked everyone through them. All of us needed to be on the same page if this was going to work, and this gave the VPs time to give me their gut reactions on everything from finances to safety codes.
“How bloated are these annual earnings figures?”
“Will there be fire extinguishers in every room?”
“What about adding a little washer and dryer combo to each unit?”
“Are all the properties beachfront?”
“Do you think we could get away with putting a tiki bar on the beach?”
“What if some of the hotel balconies had hot tubs?”
“What about entertainment at the resort? Are those fees included? Can they pick and choose their shows to pay for?”
They all had wonderful questions and I was there to answer every single one of them. The meeting took close to two hours, but when we
all left we felt like we had our fair share of information to digest. I wanted the VP of accounting to crunch some numbers about some fun ideas the VP of customer service had, and I wanted the VP of information technology to do some research into who would be the best provider on the island for television and internet.
“Make sure you get all your financial numbers to accounting,” I said. “I want these figures on my desk by the end of next week.”
We all went our separate ways and I was gathering my things, but before I could get out of there I felt a light touch on my shoulder.
And I knew exactly who it was.
“Hey there, Mr. James,” Sheila said.
“Miss Brown. What can I do for you?” I asked.
“As the VP of sales, I was wondering what your plans were for marketing this out to the public. I know you are probably going to have the stereotypical ribbon-cutting ceremony, but I really didn’t get a chance to ask before the meeting adjourned,” she said.
“Well, that’s why I asked if there was anything else before I closed the meeting, Miss Brown,” I said.
“By the time I realized what you were doing, it was already too late. Please forgive me, Mr. James, I was just writing down some figures and other information I thought would’ve been pertinent to me,” she said.