When they finally reached the lobby, Daniel turned to her. “Do you need a ride home? I can take you. I'm sure you're on my way—”
“No. That's okay. I already requested an Uber on my cell before we left the office and—”
“Uber? Seriously, my car is right here in the lot,” he protested.
She shook her head. “No, Daniel… We're not getting in the same vehicle. You’ll have me…”
“I’ll have you what, Callie? Moaning my name again? Wanting me just as much as I want you right now?” He growled close to her ear so the people walking by them couldn’t hear.
She closed her eyes trying to stick to her guns and not fall under this spell again. “You aren’t going to trick me into —”
“Trick you!” he exclaimed, his tone resorting back to the way they used to talk to each other. He sliced an angered glance in her direction. “I wouldn't trick you into anything, Callie. You know we both wanted what happened earlier. So, please don't act like it was just one-sided.”
“I never said that,” she protested. Truth was; he was right. She wanted every minute of it and she really could go for seconds. Denying it was stupid. She sounded ridiculous, and she knew it. She chose her next words carefully. Wanting it so much your body tingled and acting on it because you were trying to remain professional as possible were two different things. “I just think… now is not the time to do… whatever it is you want to do.”
“What I want to do… Me solely? Okay then, it’s whatever you say.” He stopped talking, standing next to her in silence on the walk outside their office building. The city still bustled around them even though it was late.
She stole a glance at him. “What are you doing?”
“Do you think I'm just going to let you stand out here in the middle of the city at 10:00 p.m. waiting for an Uber by yourself? I will wait until he gets here and then I will go get my car.”
“You don't have to do that, Daniel. I'm right out in front of our office building. There is security right beyond those doors.” She looked down at her cell and waved it in his direction. “See, he'll be here in five minutes—”
“Then I guess I'll wait five minutes,” he said with a matter-of-fact tone.
She rolled her eyes. Though he was still being an ass, it was nice of him to wait with her. She wouldn’t guess Daniel would be the knight in shining armor type, especially after everything Paul had said to them before about not getting along as well as the lack of professionalism. She’d never seen this side of his personality.
After tonight, something had shifted between the two of them, and now she was trying her damnedest to remain professional, even though everything in her wanted to let him drive her home and finish what they’d started. She'd gotten a taste of him now… how his body felt against hers. She wanted to know more, but it just wasn’t the right time out of respect for Paul, out of respect for the firm, out of respect for everything she knew was right. However, she still had her own needs. And after tonight, her needs included him. He glanced at her as a red Honda with a pink mustache attached to the front pulled up in front of them. “I guess this is you?” he asked.
She nodded curtly, turning to him. “Thank you for waiting with me. That was nice of you. You really didn't have to—”
He shook his head brushing off her statement. “It wasn't a problem. Enjoy your weekend, Callie.” He opened the door of the back seat of the Honda and she slid in as the driver confirmed her destination. She turned her head to answer the driver’s questions and when she turned back, Daniel had shut the door and was already cruising down the street on his way to the parking garage.
When he arrived home, he stripped from his work clothes and stepped into a steamy shower. A spray of hell fire hot water pelted his body as he washed the day away. The thoughts of everything going on at the firm, the thought Paul was dying and passing on the torch to him… He shook his head. He didn't even know if he would be able to step into those big of shoes. But, somehow Paul thought he could, and he didn't want to let the man down. After he toweled-dried, he pulled a pair of gym shorts from his dresser. Not bothering with boxers, he stepped into the silky material of the shorts and made his way to the bar in his home office. He poured a glass of scotch and sat on his oversized, leather chair behind the massive oak desk and fired up his work laptop. He really shouldn't be thinking about work at this hour, but this would be his baby soon, and he had to make sure things were running like a smooth machine. Of course thinking about work made him think about her. Of course he was thinking about her. It hadn’t been the first time he’d spent his evenings with impure thoughts for his office peer. And now he actually had the visual, taste and feel, the thought of Callie's naked body in her office open to him, inviting… Damn. He sipped from his drink. He was craving another taste, and he wanted another feel. He didn’t have all the answers yet on how to make their professional relationship work, but he thought it couldn’t hurt if their personal relationship was well connected. He wanted to know what made that beautiful mind tick, but as soon as she opened up, she just as quickly shut down. One step forward and two steps back like some kind of messed up dance.
When he logged into the work laptop, he also switched the interoffice messenger system on as well. It was a habit he did when logging in even though it was already close to midnight and nobody should be online on a Friday night that late, but of course she was. He looked at her picture and the green dot lit by Callie's name, indicating she too was burning the midnight oil. One message... that's all and he wouldn't bug her the rest of the weekend.
He clicked on her name and a white communication box popped up. He typed quickly before he lost his nerve.
Daniel: Did you make it home okay?
Simple, straight to the point. Not meddling, not sexual in nature… she shouldn't be offended by that, right? But you never knew with Callie. Little things seemed to rub her the wrong way, and he did not want to get on her bad side. He was trying to correct that between them. He also needed to be careful because a sexual harassment suit on top of everything else would not go over well. The board already questioned his ability to run the firm.
He saw the indication she’d read his message and then the notification she was typing. She was responding right away. That was a good sign, considering the last couple of times he tried to reach out to her via email and messages, she’d totally ignored him. When the response came back, it was one word.
Callie: Yes.
Great. We are back to one-word responses now! He ran a hand over his head and down his face. She either ignores me or responds with one word. He didn’t know which was worse, but he needed to figure out how to get through to her. Okay, one message would need to be more. He began to type.
Daniel: That's good. No one wants to be kidnapped by an Uber driver to start off their weekend.
He hit ‘send’ rolling his eyes. How freaking lame was that? But at least she was typing back. This is a good sign. She was responding to him.
Callie: Nope, can’t have that.
He wanted to send her a ‘what are you wearing message?’, but that was completely inappropriate especially through a work message. And that was also a sure fire way to get her to close up on him again. He wondered if he called her, what excuse he could give to get her on the phone, just to hear her voice. He weighed his options. They could talk about what Paul had said to them today. But she’d said they would talk about that on Monday and he didn’t want to upset her further tonight by bringing it up. He could ask her about the case they were closing today… but, again that can wait until Monday. There was always the hell of an elephant in the room, the fact they did the ‘do’ in her office, gotten caught by their dying boss, and they didn't even talk about it. They needed to have the conversation, but not in the office. That discussion should happen privately between him and the woman causing the uncomfortable ache in his shorts at the moment. He wanted to talk to her while his semi-erect dick was in his hand, stroking the thing to l
ife while he moaned her name and she breathed heavily on the other end of the phone… Christ, he was thinking about phone sex with Callie. Of course he was. It hadn't been the first time and it probably wouldn't be the last.
When his laptop indicated a new message, he couldn’t type back the one word response quick enough.
Callie: Daniel…
Daniel: Yes?
Callie: We really should talk.
No shit, he thought.
Daniel: I was just thinking the same thing. Yes, we should.
Callie: I don't think we should have this conversation through the office messaging system.
Well hell, I wanted to have this conversation in person. I wanted you to come over here tonight… He wouldn’t push the issue. He knew she didn't want to come over though he still hoped she changed her mind. He’d chill for a bit and let her control the conversation. That was probably the best idea. Especially since he didn't want to scare her away or move this faster than she wanted.
But, he could always send a bit of a nudge…
Daniel: Maybe a phone call?
She didn't answer as quickly this time, and he hoped to God he did not scare her off. When he saw the indication she was typing again, he thanked his lucky stars and waited for her response.
Callie: Yes, I think a phone call would work, but I don't want to have the phone conversation over our work phones either…
He lifted a fist and pumped the air. Okay, now this is some progress; a chance to get her digits, not just a work issued phone number but her actual personal phone number.
Daniel: I can call you on your personal phone if you want.
She hesitated again.
Callie: Yeah, my personal number is fine…
He watched the ten digits pop up in the messenger screen. Well, holy shit. He never thought he’d get her personal number or talk to her on the phone at this hour about anything other than work. But here he was with both. Who knows where this conversation would go tonight…
Callie: Call me in a few. I want to jump in the shower and change out of these clothes.
The clothes he had no trouble helping her out of only a few hours ago… Hmm..
Daniel: 30 minutes sound good?
He didn’t want to sound too eager, but it came across that way anyway. He should have given her at least an hour. God knows what all women do in the shower, moisturizing and washing hair and conditioning and shaving and whatever the hell else... Whatever it was, she could take all the time she needed because it made her feel and smell like a dream.
Her response broke his thoughts of the silkiness of her skin beneath his touch.
Callie: Can you give me an hour at least? I would like to make something to eat, too. I didn’t get a chance to have dinner. Kind of starving…
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