“Sweetheart, you look incredibly sexy, watching you is making me so fucking hard, I wish I were there to fuck you right now.”
Her tongue darts over her bottom lip before they part. “Oh God, Nash, thinking of you and your hard dick. I’m going to come. ”
“Come, baby, let me see you.” I watch her as she falls apart, the phone jerks erratically briefly before it returns to her face, her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are hooded, but the smile on her face is stunning.
“Hey.”
“Hey, sweetheart. You okay?”
“Better than ever.”
“I’m definitely going to need to go take a cold shower for sure now. That was amazing. You are gorgeous.”
“I think I’m going to need a cold shower too.” She giggles.
“I’m going to have to go, give me ten minutes and I’ll call you back.”
“Okay, Nash. I’ll see you in bed.”
“Can’t wait.”
After the shower, I dry off and climb back into bed. I get a text message from Beth.
Beth: I’ve taken a leaf from your book, I have Nash style PJs on.
Nash: Are you wearing the shirt and shorts you stole from me?
Beth: Not exactly…
I redial, this time only on a voice call, she answers immediately.
“Are you naked?”
“Yep.” Her voice is filled with pride. “But I have no idea how you can feel comfortable enough to sleep like this. I feel like something might crawl inside my lady parts.”
“I had never thought about it, but now I probably will. So thanks for that.”
“I can’t do it, I’m going to have to get some pants on. Be right back.” She balks before rushing on, “Don’t hang up.” I hear as she shuffles around. I stroke my dick as I wait for her it’s already hard again at the thought of sharing the bath with Beth. “I’m back, now I have your shirt and shorts on. And for the record, I didn’t steal them, you gave them to me.”
“No, I lent them to you. I thought I’d see you again after you shared my bed that night, but no. You disappeared on me.”
“Did you want to see me again?”
“Hell yes, I wanted my clothes back.”
She yawns. “Sorry.”
“You’re tired.”
“No. I’m fine.” And as if to prove my point she yawns again. “Okay, maybe I am a little, but I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.”
“We don’t have to say goodbye, we could just say good night.”
“Isn’t it the middle of the day there though?”
“Yes, but you can imagine I’m lying there next to you, I am kissing your soft lips and my hand is smoothing the hair back that has fallen across your face, it’s night there Beth, and you need to sleep.”
“Yeah, I am tired.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
“Are you going back to sleep?”
“Yeah, I think I will try to finish the dream I was having.”
“Hmm, sounds interesting.” She piques up.
“It was more than that. You were there.”
Another yawn escapes her, a slight rustling again before she speaks. “Good night or day Nash.”
“Sweet dreams, sweet Bethany.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Beth
I wake from the best sleep I had in ages, stretching before throwing back the bed sheets, all the tension that had been wracking my shoulders and neck all but gone, but the dull pain in my stomach remains.
I make my bed before seeking breakfast. Checking my phone I see that I have an unread message from Nash. Smiling, I click to open it.
Nash: Miss Spencer, you constantly surprise me.
The smile grows even wider, what an amazing way to start the day. I put my phone down while I boil the kettle and let my mind wander back to last night. I expected that once the heat of the moment had cooled down I might have felt some twinge of regret at my actions and of the giant leap I’d taken out of my comfort zone, but Nash’s reaction was more encouragement than I had needed to feel the power of my sexuality, even given the thousands of miles that we were apart.
The toaster had popped and I hadn’t even noticed. Spreading the toast on autopilot I analyzed my thoughts and feelings of Nash. I was definitely attracted to him, there was no doubt about that but what confused me is how I feel about him, more importantly, how he made me feel.
The routine of choosing shoes after I was showered and dressed had suddenly become more complicated than selecting a pair of shoes should be. The shoes Nash has given me sat front and center, and as I reach for them I hesitate, are they my first choice? Or was I wanting them simply because they were there, in front of me, looking all appealing and making me feel good about myself?
I survey my other options, a pair of beige Mary Jane peep-toe heels; practical, comfortable but understated and a little boring, my orange ankle strap platforms; impractical and quite possibly asking for a broken ankle, then I have a pair of black snakeskin kitten heels; sensible, limited razzle-dazzle with a hint of flare, and then heeled boot selection, my Gucci Dionysus ankle strap boots; reliable and sophisticated.
Maybe I needed to try some on before settling for one specific pair of green heels.
Without any further hesitation or contemplating as anguish over making the decision beings to take hold, I do the only mature thing I can think to do, I close my eyes and wave my arms in the air, randomly selecting a pair.
Happy with the universe’s decision, I zip up the back of my red ‘Bette’ lace heels and stand ready to greet the day. I’m fully aware that wearing suede is not the best choice, but with Nash safely on another continent, I dare to wear them.
I arrive at the office before Julia, setting her coffee down on her desk I return to mine, check the messages and action my emails that require attention.
Julia arrives shortly later with a young man roughly my age, wearing a pin-striped suit, slicked back blonde hair and a pair of thick-rimmed glasses.
“Darling, this is Angus Davis, he arrived this morning from London, Mr. Gibson’s replacement. He is going to be here until the completion of the project. I’m sure you will be happy to provide him with any assistance he needs?”
“Sure, Julia.” The sly upturn of Julia’s mouth prickles my skin, if she is trying to allude to Angus being my “type” and that he may require special “assistance” then she was beyond inappropriate. The thought alone caused me to internally cringe harder than the terribly disgusting and cheap tie he was wearing. “Happy to assist.” I offer my brightest and fakest smile.
Angus rushes forward with an extended hand and a smile full of braces. “You must be Beth. Nash told me about you. Nice to meet you.”
“Nash did?”
“Yes. I spoke to him this morning. He said all good things, I assure you.”
Julia and Angus both leave me sitting at my desk, I see them huddle together at her own desk, discussing and pointing to her computer screen.
Nash had spoken to Angus this morning, hastily I pulled my phone from my bag and checked the time stamp on the text message he had sent. I would have received it around 5 am this morning, checking the widget on the computer screen I had downloaded the day prior, it would have been around 9 pm London time, and now would be midnight for him. Toying with the idea of replying, I leave it not wanting to risk waking him again.
The morning passes with a constant supply of requests for information from Julia, and multiple runs of caffeine across to see Joe.
“Hey, Joe.” I greet him.
“Hi, Bethy, back again?”
“What can I say, Joe, I missed you.”
“Well, of course, you did. I forgot to mention Samuel said he ran into you the other night, you were on a date. But I thought to myself, no, that can’t be right because you never mentioned it to me?”
I laugh, “No, not a date. I just took Nash dancing.”
“You went dancing with Nash? The same Nash that you said wasn’t your friend?” Yep, J
oe misses nothing. “Looks to me that you two have been awful friendly, Bethy.”
“Joe, you are so loved up that you can’t even see straight. No pun intended. We went dancing, one time, it doesn’t make us friends.”
“Sure, but it doesn’t make you not friends either, honey. Your order is up so I’ll see you in a few hours.” He gives me a wink as he hands me the two take away cups.
I wait until I’m on the bus heading home before I reply to Nash’s text. I must look like a crazy woman to the rest of the passengers, smiling in spite of myself.
Beth: Well Mr. Gibson, what can I say, I surprise myself sometimes too.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Nash
Tuesday morning I was sitting in the conference room with John, we were reviewing the error reports whilst Gemma connects us with the design team and tech specialist.
Gemma’s voice comes in over the speaker on the handset on the table in front of us. “Nash, I have Harry and Isaac for you, I’m still trying to reach Lily. It won’t be long.”
“Thanks, Gemma. I appreciate it.”
The phone beeps and we are connected to the guys on the design team.
“Good morning, gentleman. Thank you for making yourselves available. I have John with me. We’re just waiting for Lily to be connected and then we can proceed.”
John, Harry and Isaac exchange greeting as my phone alerts of a received text message, it is from Beth. I know I should be focusing on the job, after all, I’m sitting with the Client and to do anything else would be unprofessional, but I knew well enough when it came to Beth leaving the text message unanswered would be a cause for distraction.
I take a moment to reply, before sliding the phone back onto the table in front of me.
Nash: If they are nice surprises then I’m onboard. Especially if the surprises involve bubbles, your lips and those incredible legs.
Gemma announces she has Lily on the line, after formalities we get the call underway, planning on key tasks that need to be completed as soon as possible to ensure the integrity of rebuilding the project and to avoid any further attacks. Lily confirms that the system was hacked by a rival company, unable to determine the exact person responsible, but confident that the new security measures planned will, without a doubt, eliminate any such possible threat ever happening again in the future.
“Keep us updated on when the system is ready, so we can initiate the second phase.” I instruct Lily before turning my attention back to the two men, “Harry, Isaac, we will need to arrange for a time to meet once we get the go-ahead from Lily for the reinstall of the software.”
We end the call, and John and I review the notes, as well as the plan for the remaining days of the week.
“I have faith in Lily. I still expect that by Friday we will be back on track, we’ll do the complete system install in the afternoon. Does that work for you, John?”
It’s dark before I leave the offices at Margison’s. I consider calling Beth but realise it is likely to be the early hours of the morning in Willow Bay and she hadn’t written back since the last message I’d replied to.
Back in my apartment, I catch up on the unanswered emails which have been accumulating whilst I was with John. It takes me another hour before I get through them all, and by the time I do my eyes are starting to feel strained and I can feel the tension growing in my neck. After shutting down the computer I run the shower, I watch as the steam swirls around the room, fogging the mirror. A feeling of isolation washes over me, wiping the condensation from the mirror a sad and tired man looks back. I could see so clearly the stress and the pressure I had placed myself under like a roadmap of the past few years. I was tired; I felt every minute of sleep I had missed out on because of some deadline that had to be met, and every mile I had traveled on a Hail Mary mission for some desperate client. And worst of all, I was alone.
After the shower I dry off and climb between the sheets, again I consider calling Beth, but doubt takes over, I don’t want to push her in any way, come on too strong with her and only end up scaring her away. I need her to come to realise that even though we so far apart there is a chance that maybe something special could develop between us.
My phone begins to ring and I can’t help but smile when the caller ID shows Beth.
“Hello, sweetheart, you must have been reading my mind.”
“Should I be blushing?” Her comment causes me to chuckle. “What time is it there?”
“Just before midnight.”
“Oh shit, sorry, have I woken you again?”
“No, I just got into bed.”
“Long day?”
“Yeah a bit, how about you?” I enjoy our exchange, talking about our day is something simple and yet, I revel in the comfort of it being something regular couples do.
“What is the story with Angus?”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know, there is just something about him that prickles the hair on my arms.”
“You mean other than the fact that he’s not me.”
“Obviously.”
“I don’t know, sweetheart, I guess he just does things in a different way?”
“That is for sure.” We fall into silence for a beat.
“So what are you doing?”
“Coffee run. It would seem that is mostly what I do these days.”
“Should I be jealous? You never brought me coffee.”
“I probably should have, might’ve saved my favourite pair of heels.” I hear the noise for the busy traffic in the background as she answers, then the peep of the crosswalk.
“So you’ve still not been able to forgive me for that? What else can I do make it up to you?”
“I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
“You should do that, but don’t take too long.” I hear her call for the elevator, for someone to hold the door, and it reminds me of that first day I saw her again.
“I have to go, Nash, I’ll call you when I can. Bye.”
I hear the ding of the elevator and then she was gone. The phone was dead silent.
For the rest of the week, we made progress on getting the project back to where it was before the delays. Conversation with Beth had dwindled to only a few text messages a day and a frustrating game of telephone tag. So many missed calls and I felt like I was having withdrawals from her. It was like she was my drug and without her, functioning was painful.
Friday morning I decide I’m going to call her, I don’t want to wait any longer to hear her voice and I have no intention of giving up without speaking to her. When it rings for the fifth time I begin to think I have called too early, but just when I start to plan the message I will leave on her voicemail she answers.
“Hi.” He voice is husky, and the sound of it alone awakens my dormant need for her.
“Hi, I thought I was going to get your voicemail.”
“Sorry, I was asleep.”
“You were? I’m sorry. You okay?”
“I think I have a bug or something.” She yawns down the phone and apologises for it.
“You should go back to sleep, sweetheart, I can talk to you later.”
“No Nash, it is fine really. I’ve slept all day.”
“Have you been to the doctor?”
“No, but I’m okay, I don’t need a doctor. More sleep and I will be fine. Gretna is making me some soup.”
“I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”
“Well there isn’t, you’re on the other side of the world.” I could easily detect that there was some irritation in her voice, chalking it down to her being unwell and tired, it was understandable.
“I know, look, I’m sorry. It sucks, especially when all I want is to be there for you, with you, right now.”
“There is no reason for you to be sorry, Nash. Truth be told, there is actually no need for you to feel anything at all. I think the little bubble we were living in has burst and the reality of us is there is no us,
some great sex but that was all it was.”
I recoil at the tone of words as if she had physically slapped me. “Yeah okay, Beth, you’re right, caring about you is stupid on my part considering you’ve repeatedly made it clear that you feel nothing for me beyond some great sex.” My own frustrations mount and I lash out at her, embarrassed and disappointed in myself I want to apologise again for the way I’d spoken to her but I was pissed off now, at myself for hoping there could be something more, for thinking I had done enough for Beth to believe it as well, but now, miles apart it seemed all too easy for Beth to hold me at arm’s length again, but I suppose it was better to know now how durable our relationship could be instead of years down the track.
Out of sight is easily out of mind.
“I need to go, thanks for calling. But please don’t call me again. Goodbye, Nash.” I end up saying goodbye to the empty room, she had already ended the call before I even had a chance to say it to her.
I toss my phone on the table in front of me, blowing out a breath I run my hands through my hair and down over my face, just as John joins me in the conference room.
“Hi, Nash. I’ve just come from a meeting with the partners.” If he noticed the dark cloud hanging around me now, he doesn’t mention it. “Have you got some time now to go over some feedback?”
“Sure.” I push the call with Beth from my mind for the time being. Rehashing it will only put me in a bad mood, and that would be counter-productive right now. “Sounds good.”
“They are very happy with the progress but were very insistent that we stay on track for the release date. I have told them that it is achievable.” John removes his hands from his pockets, resting them in front of him as he leaned into the conference room table. “Now I want you to tell me that I’m not going to have to go back on my word.”
“Honestly, John, we will know more this afternoon. How much time do I have before you need to go back to them?”
“Lunchtime, they have a meeting in the afternoon with the board and feel they need some positive answers for some nervous ears.” He was really tightening the screws on this one.
In Her Own Time Page 9