One Night

by Ramona Gray

  She trailed one perfectly manicured finger down Edward’s arm and marched toward the main doors, dragging him with her. Kate pressed her lips together in an effort to stop the laughter bubbling up inside of her. Tom make a weird coughing noise and she realized he was trying madly to keep a straight face. She grinned at him as he offered her his arm.

  “I’ll bet you fifty bucks that Bonnie gropes Edward during dinner,” he said in a low voice.

  “Like I want to lose fifty bucks tonight,” she said.

  He laughed. “Poor Edward. I keep thinking he’ll just give in and sleep with her – what Bonnie wants, Bonnie gets – but he’s been remarkably resilient to her advances.”

  They followed Bonnie and Edward outside and as the driver stepped from the car, Kate smiled at him.

  “Hello, Jeffrey.”

  “Hi, Kate. It’s nice to see you again,” he said politely.

  He opened the front passenger door and Bonnie said, “Why don’t you sit up front, Tom?”

  “Would love to, Bonnie,” Tom replied with a grin.

  Jeffrey opened the back door and Bonnie slid into the car, patting the middle seat. “Sit beside me, please, Edward.”

  Edward gave Kate a decidedly panicked look and, taking pity on him, she said brightly, “Edward’s legs are so long, it’ll be more comfortable for him if I sit in the middle.”

  She climbed into the car and smiled cheerfully at Bonnie as Edward squeezed in beside her.

  As they drove to the restaurant, Bonnie gave her a shark-like smile. “It’s so crowded back here that I suppose we should have taken two cars. Your outfit is so slimming, I forgot you were one of those big girls, Kate.”

  “I do have a set of hips on me,” Kate said agreeably. She shifted closer to Edward. He laid his arm across the back of the seat and she tucked her body up against him. She suppressed the urge to rest her hand on his thigh.

  “So, how long have you been a secretary?” Bonnie asked.

  “About eight years,” Kate replied.

  Bonnie studied her in the dim light. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but how old are you?”

  “I’m twenty-seven,” Kate said.

  Bonnie blinked at her. “Really? You should try moisturizing on a regular basis, it can do wonders for your skin.”

  “Thanks for the tip,” Kate said before putting her head down and staring at the floor.

  Edward groaned inwardly and discreetly rubbed Kate’s thigh with his, hoping like hell her temper wouldn’t get the best of her. She was trembling with anger and the last thing he needed was Kate tearing one of the firm’s most loyal clients a new one. Her trembling increased and he nudged her leg with his. She gave him a quick sideways glance and he realized that what he had mistaken for anger was barely contained laughter.

  Kate stole a quick glance at Edward when he nudged her thigh and, at the look on his face, the laughter threatened to bubble to the surface again. She quickly returned her gaze to her knees, struggling for control as Bonnie prattled on about the cold weather.

  It was the day before her birthday and she was in New York City, crammed into the back seat of a car between her boss/lover and a cranky old woman who had just called her fat and old. The absurdity of it struck her funny bone again and a giggle escaped. She covered her mouth with her hand and manufactured a coughing fit.

  “That’s quite the cough. I do hope you’re not coming down with something and infecting the rest of us,” Bonnie said icily.

  Kate shook her head as Jeffrey parked in front of a brightly-lit restaurant. “Should I arrange for a car to bring you to the hotel after dinner, Mr. Turner?”

  “Yes, please, around eight,” Edward said before opening the door and climbing out of the car. He helped Kate and Bonnie from the car, scowling slightly when Tom immediately offered his arm to Kate, and the four of them walked into the restaurant.

  * * *

  “You’ve really never been to Paris, Kate?” Tom said as the server cleared away their empty plates.

  “I haven’t,” Kate replied.

  Tom placed his arm across the back of her chair, letting his fingertips stroke her shoulder lightly. Across the table, Edward was noticeably glowering at him and she was just about to try and kick him under the table when his eyes widened. Bonnie had insisted on sitting next to him and while she had seemed rather well-behaved during dinner, one hand was now under the table. Edward shifted uncomfortably in his chair and Kate smiled sweetly at him. He gave her a pointed look and she looked away before she burst into laughter.

  “Everyone has to go to Paris at least once in their life,” Tom said. “It’s beautiful there. Such a rich history of culture and the people are so interesting.”

  “It smells bad, the buildings are old and the weather is atrocious,” Bonnie sniffed. “I don’t plan on ever returning to Paris. Besides, Paris is a place for lovers. Didn’t you mention you were single, Kate?”

  Kate nodded as Tom shrugged and casually squeezed her shoulder. “If you ever want to go to Paris, Katie, just give me a call. I’ll gladly escort you.”

  Tom perused the dessert menu as Edward gave him a smoking look of anger. Kate kicked his shin under the table. He flinched before glancing at her and she gave him an almost imperceptible head shake. Having Edward ruin a long-standing relationship with a client because he couldn’t keep his caveman behaviour under wraps was not her idea of a successful client dinner. She stared pointedly at him until he relaxed slightly.

  “What are you lovely ladies having for dessert?” Tom asked.

  “The cheesecake looks good,” Kate said.

  “Oh, I couldn’t possible have another bite,” Bonnie said. “I’m so full. I swear, Kate, you must have a hollow leg. I have never seen a lady eat so much.”

  “My mom says the same thing,” Kate said cheerfully. “I wish I could introduce you to her. You’re close to the same age and I bet would have a lot in common.”

  Bonnie stiffened and scowled at her as Tom made an odd snorting noise before coughing loudly into his closed fist. Kate patted him gently on the back and held out his water glass. He took a sip before grinning at her.

  “Have we made a decision on dessert?” The tension was broken by the server and Kate smiled at him.

  “I’ll have the cheesecake, please.”

  * * *

  “You know she’s asking him to go home with her, right?” Tom murmured into Kate’s ear.

  They were standing in front of the office building and Kate shivered as the snow fell. She wasn’t used to the cold weather and her feet felt like frozen blocks of ice in their thin boots.

  “Probably,” Kate said in a low voice.

  They watched as Bonnie hugged Edward again before whispering into his ear. He gave her an apologetic look and shook his head before glancing at his watch.

  “He’s giving her the ‘it’s really late excuse’,” Tom said. “Rookie mistake. It’s only eight thirty.”

  Kate laughed and Tom threw his arm around her shoulders. “You’re shaking, Kate.”

  “Wimpy California girl,” she said through chattering teeth.

  Tom rubbed her arm. “Would you like to have drinks with me tonight?”

  She blinked at him and he laughed. “Don’t look so surprised, Kate. I’ve been flirting with you all night. I know a quiet little pub not too far from here. I can drive you back to the hotel after.”

  Kate shook her head. “I really can’t, Tom. I’m here for work reasons not pleasure.”

  “So having drinks with me would be pleasing. Good to know,” he said happily.

  She laughed. “You’re somewhat charming.”

  “I am, aren’t I?” He said. “What about tomorrow night? We could go for dinner, and I could show you a few tourist things. I’ll have you back at your hotel by nine at the latest, I promise.”

  She hesitated, glancing at Edward as he untangled himself from Bonnie’s grip and started toward them. “I’d really better not. Like I said, Edward flew m
e out here to work not socialize.”

  “It’ll be after work,” Tom said. “You need to have some fun while you’re here.”

  He pulled her a little tighter against him and studied her mouth before smiling. “Have dinner with me tomorrow night. Edward won’t mind.”

  “Actually Edward does mind.”

  Edward pulled Kate away from Tom and wrapped his arm around her waist, tucking her firmly against his body and gripping her hip possessively. “I already have plans for Ms. Turner tomorrow evening.”

  Tom studied Edward carefully before smiling at Kate. “It was nice to meet you, Kate.”

  “Nice to meet you too, Tom,” Kate said. She tried to step away from Edward and was rewarded with his arm pulling her even closer.

  “Good night, Edward,” Tom said.

  “Good night,” Edward replied stiffly. Tom held out his hand and after a moment, Edward shook it firmly.

  Tom smiled at Kate again before shoving his hands into his coat pocket and, whistling softly, joined Bonnie by the parking garage. The blonde woman was glaring at them, Kate could practically feel her hot rage, and she pushed lightly at Edward’s arm.

  “Edward, let go,” she said under her breath. “Bonnie’s about to come over here and murder me.”

  He ignored her and, keeping one arm firmly around her waist, led her to the car. They climbed into the back seat and she gave him a curious look as he leaned forward and said curtly, “Close the partition, please.”

  The driver nodded and the tinted glass rose with a soft whir. When it was closed completely, he leaned back in his seat and glared at Kate. “I don’t want you having dinner with Tom tomorrow night.”

  “That’s obvious,” Kate said.

  He continued to scowl at her and she sighed loudly. “What’s the problem, Edward?”

  “Stay away from Tom,” he snapped.

  “I’m not having dinner with him,” she retorted. “Your jealous caveman act back there worked. You need to control your jealousy, Edward. What if Tom decides to drop the law firm because you were being a dick?”

  “I wasn’t being a dick,” Edward protested. “You’re here to work, not socialize.”

  “That’s what I told him,” she said angrily. “I don’t need you turning down dates on my behalf, Edward. I can do that perfectly fine on my own.”

  “So you do want to date him,” he said in a sulky voice.

  “Oh my God,” she said in exasperation. “I don’t even know him.”

  “Which is why you shouldn’t be going on a date with him!” He shouted.

  “I’m not!” She said. “Now stop shouting at me or I’ll punch you in the face.”

  He blinked in surprise before suddenly grinning. “Did you just threaten to punch me in the face?”

  “Yes,” she said. “If you keep shouting and acting like a jealous little boy, you deserve a punch in the face.”

  He suddenly slid across the seat and yanked her into his embrace. He threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her immobile, and gave her a look of apology. “I’m sorry, Katie-did. I was being a jealous dick. You have every right to go to dinner with Tom tomorrow night and I’m sorry I said you couldn’t. If you want to have dinner with him, I won’t try and stop you.”

  “I don’t want to have dinner with him,” she said.

  “Why not?”

  She sighed. “Can we just drop it, Edward? I’m cold and I’m tired and I want to get back to the hotel room and have a hot bath.”

  He studied her mouth in the light from the street lamps flashing by. “Your lips are blue, Katie.”

  “I’m cold,” she reminded him.

  He dipped his head and pressed his mouth against hers. His lips were warm and firm and she moaned happily when he slipped his tongue into her mouth. He tasted like the chocolate cake he’d eaten for dessert and she didn’t object when he pushed her back against the seat and kissed her hungrily. He cupped her breast through her jacket, muttering under his breath at the bulkiness of it, and she kissed him again. He groaned into her mouth, his hand tightening on her breast when she sucked at his tongue.

  “Katie,” he rasped, “Will you – “

  They jerked apart when the back door opened and the driver leaned his head in. “We’re here, sir – oh, sorry.”

  Kate, blushing, glanced out the window. They were parked in front of the hotel – she hadn’t even noticed the car stopping – and she climbed out of the car, smiling distractedly at the driver before following Edward into the hotel.

  They rode the elevator silently, walked down the hallway silently, and stood in front of their respective doors in silence. Edward opened his door and, without looking at her, said, “Good night, Kate. The car will be downstairs at eight.”

  He stepped into his room and shut the door before she could reply. She opened her own door and slammed it shut a little harder then necessary before kicking off her shoes and dropping her purse on the bed. The clasp popped open and the contents spilled on to the bed. With a sigh of frustration, she stuffed the various items back into her purse.

  She lingered on Tom’s business card, running her fingers lightly over the raised letters, before sitting on the bed and staring at the phone. Maybe she should call him. She wasn’t in a relationship with Edward and he had just said he didn’t have a problem with her having dinner with Tom.

  Is that what he actually said?

  She ignored her inner voice and stared at Tom’s business card again. It was her birthday tomorrow – did she really want to tour New York on her own or worse, spend it alone in her hotel room? No, she decided, she really didn’t.

  She picked up the phone, dialed nine and then punched in the first three numbers before cursing under her breath and dropping the phone back into its cradle.

  “You are fucking losing it, Kate,” she muttered to herself. “You are not in a relationship with Edward and having dinner with Tom is not cheating on him.”

  No, it wasn’t. So why did she feel like it was?

  She paced the room agitatedly, staring at the wall that separated her from Edward, and tried to resist the urge to go to him. She really should have a hot bath and just forget that Edward was in the next room, possibly naked.

  Why?

  What?

  Why do you have to forget that? Why can’t you just go over there and take what you want?

  Because I’ll get fired, remember?

  Only if someone finds out.

  He’s still in love with his dead wife.

  Yes, but he does want you. That can be enough. Now’s your chance to fuck his brains out without worrying about someone from the office catching you. Why the hell are you just standing here wasting all this perfectly good fucking time?

  The thought made her grin and, before she could lose her nerve, she grabbed her cardkey off the table, took a quick peek into the hallway, and walked quickly to Edward’s room. She knocked and waited patiently. After a minute she was about to knock again when the door opened. Edward was shirtless and bare foot and at the sight of his tanned upper body, her mouth went dry. She stared mutely at him as he gave her an uncertain look.

  “Kate? Is there something wrong?”

  “No, may I come in?”

  He stepped back and she brushed past him, resisting the urge to trail her hand across his bare chest as she walked by. He shut the door and she stared at the large muscles in his back as the familiar aching need started up inside of her.

  “Kate, what are you doing here?” He asked quietly.

  She took a deep breath and smiled at him. “I was sitting in my hotel room thinking about your big cock and how much I wanted to taste it. So, here I am.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered. “This is a very bad idea.”

  She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back toward the bed until he was standing in front of it. She unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his pants as he cleared his throat.

  “Kate, are you sure – “

  “Stop tal
king, Edward.” She pushed his pants and his briefs down his legs and smiled with satisfaction at his erect cock. “You like the idea of me sucking on your cock.”

  “Of course I do,” he muttered.

  “Good.”

  She pushed him into a sitting position on the bed and knelt on the floor between his legs before taking him in her hand and stroking firmly. He moaned, his hands tightening on the bedcover, as she stroked him until a bead of precum appeared on the head of his cock. She licked it away, smiling at the way he gasped, before suckling firmly on the head. His hands immediately twisted in her hair, holding her head tightly as she sucked. She glanced up at him, all of the muscles in her lower abdomen tightening at the look of lust on his face.

  “You look so pretty with my cock in your mouth, Katie,” he said hoarsely.

  She licked him again from the base of his shaft to the head and he moaned her name as his hips bucked. She held the base of him, sliding her mouth up and down as she varied the pressure of her mouth, and he groaned harshly.

  She released him with a soft pop and smiled up at him. “You taste good, Edward.”

  “Keep sucking. Please, Katie,” he begged quietly.

  He tugged on her hair, urging her mouth back over him and she traced the head with her tongue before taking over half of him in her mouth. He cried out and she made a muffled gasp when he thrust his hips upwards. She sucked steadily as his hands stroked her hair and he made whispered pleas that were half compliments and half begging for more.

  His cock was swelling in her mouth, more of his slightly salty taste coating her tongue, and she released him again before smiling.

  “Do you want to come in my mouth, Edward?”

  “Yes,” he rasped. “But I also want to fuck you.”

  She stroked and caressed his cock with her warm hands. “You choose.”

  He hesitated only a second before saying, “I want to fuck you.”

  She stood and quickly stripped off her clothes. Edward reached for her, wrapping his hands around her waist and dragging her forward until he could nuzzle her ribcage.