Dirty Little Quickies

by Shanora Williams

  While I packed up, I wondered if he’d skipped Monday on purpose. After walking out on him, I felt bad about it when I got home, but I didn’t regret it. I was upset, and had thought a little too much about the future.

  Instead of thinking about the now, and how much I was enjoying my time with him, I was thinking ahead to a place and time we hadn’t even reached yet.

  I enjoyed my time with Jude.

  I liked the way he looked at me, and how he took good care of my body, doing things to me that no other man had ever done to me before.

  Why couldn’t I just accept what was going for us right now, and think about the consequences later? Being invested in a man like Judas Clement wasn’t such a bad thing…was it?

  I got home a little before 7:00 p.m. that same night and the house was quiet. Carrie was most likely working, but she’d made dinner for me, something I loved so much about her. Sometimes I’d skip dinner and just eat a piece of fruit if I had too much work to do. She knew this and couldn’t stand it, so she’d whip something up so I couldn’t make an excuse about not eating.

  I worked at a messy dinner table, covered in papers, prints, and an empty bowl of spaghetti, for several hours, until my phone rang. I wasn’t expecting the name that showed up on the screen. To be frank, I hadn’t thought much about him since Friday night.

  I answered the phone and put on a chipper tone. “Hi, Tyler,” I chimed.

  “Hey, Jenna. What’s up? Haven’t heard from you since yesterday. Everything okay?”

  “Mmm-hmm, yeah. Everything is fine. I’ve just been a little busy with work. I have a huge project to organize for my boss so I’ve had my hands full.”

  “Oh, I see. Well, maybe you can take a break for an hour and catch something to eat with me?”

  I chewed on my bottom lip, sitting down in my chair. I couldn’t do it, and I honestly didn’t want to. I figured maybe if I rejected his offers, eventually he would just stop asking and maybe even stop calling. But I wasn’t that person.

  I hated confrontation.

  “I wish, but I really have to finish this. This thing is due tomorrow morning and my boss will kill me if something isn’t right.”

  “He sounds strict,” he said.

  “He can be.” I bit a smile, just thinking about how strict he could get with me.

  “Okay, well, if you want to take a break, just call me. I’ll drop whatever I’m doing for you.”

  I laughed. “Thanks, Tyler. Talk to you soon, okay?”

  “Okay–”

  He had more to say but I ended the call before he could get the chance. I couldn’t do this to him. He was such a nice guy, but he wasn’t Jude.

  Before I could place my phone down and get back to work, a chiming came from my computer. An email.

  Subject: Need to know

  You didn’t respond to the email earlier. Just want to know you’re okay. I don’t want you to be upset, Jenna. You know the rules.

  Judas Clement

  C.E.O of Clement Architecture

  Sighing, I straightened my back and responded to his email.

  Subject: Re: Need to know

  Mr. Clement, I’m fine. I got a little carried away with my feelings last night but I’m better now, and I’m not angry with you. Yes, I know the rules and I’ll stick to following them from now on.

  Jenna Taylor

  Executive Secretary of Clement Architecture

  I waited several minutes before getting his response.

  Subject: Re: Re: Need to know

  Well, if you’re not angry, attend the gala with me. As my secretary and as my date…but only we will know that last part.

  Judas Clement

  C.E.O of Clement Architecture

  I laughed softly and shook my head, responding immediately.

  Subject: Re: Re: Re: Need to know

  I probably won’t attend the gala, Mr. Clement. I don’t even have a dress for the occasion. I can’t just go out and buy a Dior or Versace dress to show off like you and your family can.

  Jenna Taylor

  Executive Secretary of Clement Architecture

  Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need to know

  If you had the choice to pick, which would you prefer? Dior or Versace?

  Judas Clement

  C.E.O of Clement Architecture

  I debated for a bit.

  Subject: Re. Re: Re: Re: Re: Need to know

  Probably Dior.

  Jenna Taylor

  Executive Assistant of Clement Architecture

  Subject: Re. Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need to know

  Don’t make any plans after work tomorrow. I’ll have you flown to San Francisco, where you can pick your favorite Dior dress and be fitted for it. Now you have no choice but to attend the gala with me.

  Judas Clement

  C.E.O of Clement Architecture

  Wait.

  Was he serious? Did he really want me to go so badly that he’d buy me a thousand-dollar dress just to be sure I showed up? I scoffed, but couldn’t stop beaming. How was any woman supposed to pass up the opportunity to be fitted in a one-of-a-kind designer dress?

  Subject: Re. Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Need to know

  You are out of your mind, Mr. Clement…but I’ll be sure all plans are cancelled for tomorrow afternoon.

  Jenna Taylor

  Executive Assistant of Clement Architecture

  I smiled and shut my laptop, my teeth sinking into my bottom lip. This push and pull was becoming a dangerous game and I knew it, yet I was sinking into the clutches of this budding romance like quicksand.

  THIRTEEN

  JUDAS

  The week passed by rather quickly.

  After nailing the presentation for Fox on Tuesday and landing another five-million-dollar deal, the week breezed by and before I knew it, it was Saturday morning, the day of the Christmas gala.

  My mother had been calling constantly, asking when I’d be arriving. She knew Jenna was flying in with me on the jet. What she didn’t know was that my secretary would also be staying in my hotel room.

  The rooms were connected, but still. She was going to be right next me. Close, so I could have her anytime I wanted.

  When the jet was about to land, Jenna sucked in a sharp breath. “Seeing your family is always so nerve-wracking,” she confessed.

  I couldn’t blame her on that one. My family—my mother and older sister especially—stressed me out way too much. But the gala was this weekend, which meant all of my time wasn’t going to have to be spent around them. The good thing about the galas was that my family occupied themselves with the guests and paid less attention to me.

  They started their famous Clement Christmas Gala five years ago, after my father had retired and recovered from his hip injury. It was a good way to continue business and to let our clients know that we were good people, I suppose. In my opinion, it was how we kept them under our wing and how we obtained future clients.

  “Are you sure about the attached rooms? What if one of them follows you to the hotel or shows up or something?” Jenna asked, her eyes wide.

  “They won’t, Jenna. They never have before and they won’t start now. You’re worrying too much,” I laughed. “Seriously, once my parents start drinking and dancing, they’ll be worn out by the end of the night and headed home. Same goes for Janelle.”

  “And Michaela?” she demanded. “She’ll be following you. She’ll want to come back with you…because you’ve had sex with her before, too.”

  “It’s been months since the last time I did anything with her, Jenna. I haven’t touched her since we started this. It’s easy for me to make an excuse to not be around her.”

  She rolled her eyes and crossed her legs. “If she tries to flirt with you or touch you around me, I’ll leave, Jude. I’m just…I’m not up for the competition. You say I have the upper hand, but that’s only behind closed doors. In public, she has the upper hand, and she knows it and she’ll use that. I’ve always gotten the feeling th
at she doesn’t like me, that she knows I’m interested in you.”

  “Jenna, babe. Seriously, stop.” I wanted to wrap my arm around her, tell her it was going to be okay. If we hadn’t been instructed to strap in, I would have.

  It was going to be okay. Michaela didn’t own me. I had no idea where Jenna got the idea that I couldn’t do shit without having Michaela on my back.

  She overheard one conversation and thought she knew everything about the situation, but she didn’t even know the half of it.

  FOURTEEN

  JENNA

  The hotel was stunning.

  Ten times better than the one that was booked for us last year. Though the rooms were connected, it seemed to be one big penthouse. Our rooms overlooked the ocean, and through the windows I could see the Golden Gate Bridge off in the distance.

  There was a door that led from my room to Jude’s. His room was slightly bigger, but only because it came equipped with a wet bar.

  The gala was in less than three hours and I needed to be getting ready. I took a quick shower and shaved. When I finished up and had thrown on a pair of shorts and a camisole, a knock sounded on the door that connected our rooms.

  “Come in,” I called.

  Jude stepped in and met my eyes. I started to smile, but a woman appeared behind him and my smile faded. I blinked rapidly, doing my best to avoid a frown.

  “Jenna, I want you to meet Louise. She’s a close friend of mine—one of my best friends, actually—and one of the best makeup artists I know.” Jude came toward me, grabbing my hand and turning me fully to face a smiling Louise. When he touched me, I relaxed and smiled at her.

  She was beautiful, in the Plain Jane kind of way. She had reddish brown hair and light brown eyes. She also had a tomboyish demeanor about her, sporting a plaid shirt and dusty-looking jeans.

  “You have the dress, but you need to complete the look. Louise is going to do your makeup. Make you look like the queen you are,” Jude informed me.

  “Where should I set up?” Louise asked.

  Jude lifted his free arm to point at the stools in front the kitchenette counter. Louise bobbed her head and I turned to look at him as she started setting up her things.

  “Will she tell your family about this? Us?” I whispered.

  “No. I trust her,” Jude murmured.

  But do you like her? I wanted to ask. Instead, I nodded as Jude escorted me her way. I sat down on the bench as Louise took out brushes and makeup. “Louise and I went to Harvard together. I got into a lot of trouble with this woman. I think the main reason we’ve stayed good friends is because of our love for pussy,” Jude chuckled, and I snapped my gaze up to his, just as Louise laughed and took out some concealer.

  “It would be nice if you stopped using my sexuality to make up for your bachelor ways,” she continued laughing.

  Oh. I got it now. She wasn’t interested in men. Relief struck me and I relaxed in my seat even more. Thank goodness. I was so sick of competing.

  “I’m going to get ready in my room.” Jude stroked my arm. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  “I will,” I said.

  He walked off and cracked the door behind him, and when he was gone, Louise turned to face me, planting a hand on her hip and chomping her gum. “You’re a beautiful girl, but I’m going to make you so hot that Jude gets hard just looking at you.”

  I burst out in laughter as she turned for the concealer. “I’m surprised he’s even doing this,” I admitted.

  “What?” she asked without looking at me. “Pampering you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I must admit, this is a first. He’s never asked me to do a woman’s makeup for him, other than his sisters’.”

  “Janelle? Yeah. Are you close with her?”

  Louise laughed out loud. “Oh, God, no. A girl like her is hard to be close with. Never met a woman so full of herself—well, other than her mother, of course,” she chuckled.

  I smiled. I liked Louise already, and I could see why she was Jude’s best friend.

  “Plus, since they found out I was gay,” she continued, applying the concealer to my face, “they don’t really approve of me being around Jude. His mom thinks I’m going to take him to a gay club and the experience will, eventually, turn him gay.”

  “Oh, my gosh! No! She said that?” I guffawed.

  “Straight to my face.” She popped her gum. “It was years ago. Jude confronted her about it but she didn’t apologize—not that I was really expecting one anyway. Still, she despises me. Jude invited me to the gala this year but I turned it down. Though, I probably should have gone and shown up in a tux. Now that would have set her ass on fire.”

  I giggled. I was so glad I wasn’t the only one they treated like that. Louise seemed like a good person. I was a good person. We were good for Jude, I think. We humbled him in a way his family couldn’t, and I think his parents hated that about us. They hated the fact that we could give Jude something they couldn’t.

  They wanted him to be just like them—stuck up, arrogant, and full of himself. Jude could be arrogant, but he showed respect when necessary. He could be full of himself, but he also knew when to lower his pride for the company.

  The only thing he did get from them was his arrogance, but that was something I didn’t mind so much.

  Louise finished my makeup in a little less than an hour and when I looked in the mirror, I could hardly recognize the woman staring back at me. I was sure my smile lit up the room. She’d done a fantastic job.

  Louise helped me into my dress after she was finished, zipping it up for me in the back. It was strange—it felt like I’d known her for years. She uplifted and encouraged me and repeatedly told me how lucky Jude was to be walking through the doors of the gala with me at his side. Apparently, he was a fool for not asking me to marry him. That gave me a good laugh.

  As I stood in front of the mirror on the wall and applied the finishing touches to complete my look for the event, there was a knock on the door and Jude walked in. I put my earrings in but my focus was on him as soon as he came into full view. Louise had left nearly twenty minutes ago so we were alone again, and that thought resonated loudly in my brain.

  Alone.

  Together.

  No work.

  In a hotel.

  Just us.

  And it wasn’t Sunday.

  Jude had a small smile on his lips when he stepped into the room, but it had disappeared immediately when he took in my ensemble. He didn’t blink for several seconds and for a fleeting moment I wondered if this was too much—the makeup, the hair Louise styled in a semi-classy, semi-casual up-do—until he took a step forward and said, “Wow.”

  “What?” I asked, facing him full on. “Is it too much?”

  “No.” He met up to me, head shaking. “God, no, Jenna. You look…well, shit.” He studied my face and then lowered his gaze to my dress. “You look amazing.”

  I dropped my head and couldn’t fight my blush. “You don’t look so bad yourself, Mr. Clement.”

  And he really didn’t. Jude had gotten his hair cut the day before our flight. His scruff was still there, but it was fuller and lined up. He looked absolutely amazing in his tuxedo and bowtie.

  He placed a strong finger beneath my chin, leaving me no choice but to put my eyes on his. “You’re beautiful, Jenna. I’ll have to make sure no one tries to put their hands on you while we’re there.”

  I giggled. “I’ll be sure they don’t.”

  His smile was soft. “Well, the driver is waiting. We’re already running a little late. I wanted you to have time to finish.” He paused, pressing his lips again. “Louise told me you looked great before she left. She was right.”

  I held his hand, watching his lips. I wanted so badly to kiss him—to own those lips. I wanted him to show me I was beautiful with that mouth of his. I wanted him to claim me.

  But, as if he noticed me looking at his sculpted mouth, he sighed and stepped back, but kept
my hand in his. “Let’s get going. You have everything you need?”

  I released his hand and picked up my clutch on the counter. “I do now.” I put on a smile for him. “Let’s get out of here.”

  FIFTEEN

  JUDAS

  I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.

  Even during the ride to the gala, it was impossible not to steal a few glances. She looked fucking amazing, and the shimmery gold dress she wore hugged her body, accentuating every single curve she had—every curve I’d touched on more than one occasion.

  I knew my mother and sister were going to say something about her appearance as soon as they saw us walking through the door together. They weren’t fond of Jenna and I wasn’t sure why.

  They’d been against her ever since she was hired, probably because I hired my own secretary that time around. For years, they’d been calling the shots, hiring people they wanted, but the previous secretaries were awful and unorganized. Jenna was exceptional at her job.

  A part of me thought she intimidated them, mainly because they didn’t have the control over her that they had over the previous secretaries, and also because, with the way she looked that night, it would be impossible for any woman not to feel at least a little uncomfortable and insecure around her.

  Jenna was stunning and could have any man she wanted. I had no idea why she was still sticking around with a man like me—a man who wouldn’t even kiss her. I was tempted to, but I knew this wouldn’t go on for long. If I were to kiss her, it would have made things real, and my plans for the future weren’t set in stone yet.

  I had to keep the boundaries set, even though I was starting to feel more for her than I wanted to admit.