by Audrey Storm
“I’d love to but I just had lunch with my sisters and I have to go back to work…crazy project I am working on,” she said. “Is it okay if we just walk in your office?” she asked and he nodded.
“Sure.” He slipped an arm around her waist and led her into his office.
She was breathing hard and heavy as she walked into his office. He led her to a couch on one end of the office. She sat down and he sat down next to her looking at her inquisitively.
“I was actually going to call you tonight so this is kind of great that you showed up here,” he said and she forced out a smile. “Everything okay?” he asked and she shrugged.
“I’m not very sure,” she said as she looked into his eyes. “I just want to know what’s going on with us.”
“What do you mean?” he asked and she pulled her bag close and hugged it tight.
“I don’t want to sound like I am jumping the gun or anything but I have to ask, is there something between us? Or am I just reading into something that doesn’t even exist?” she asked and he smiled. “What?” she asked.
“You like me,” he said grinning widely.
“No…I never said that but…” she started and he laughed.
“Yes you do,” he said in a soft voice. “And that is okay because…” he held her face in his hands. “Because I like you too.”
“What?” she asked and he smiled.
“I like you,” he said. “That’s why I asked you out.”
She shook her head.
“Why?” she asked.
“Why what?” he asked and she shrugged.
“Why me?” she asked as she looked at him. “I just don’t get it.”
He pulled his hands away from her face and looked into her eyes.
“What exactly don’t you get, Kylie?” he asked and she waved a hand between them.
“This. Why a guy like you…a stud in every sense of the word would want me? The girl who never got picked at gym class? What bet did you lose? What are you trying to prove?” she shook her head and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“Whoa, Kylie,” he started as he gently brushed the tear off with his thumb. “What is going on? You are worrying me.”
“I’m sorry…I’m so…I’m sorry,” she said in a soft voice as another tear rolled down her other cheek. “This is not the way I wanted to do this but there is no perfect way to do this really…and…” she shook her head and sighed. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come here.”
She stood up and began walking towards the door and a confused Sean ran after and held her wrist just before she opened the door.
“No, no, no,” he said as he pulled her back to himself. She turned around and looked at him. “Tell me what is going on because I’m not very sure I understand anything right now.”
She had another tear rolling down her cheek.
“Please tell me what’s going on because it is too painful for me to see you like this and that’s saying a lot because when I was a teenager I got my ball sac caught in the zipper of my pants,” he said and she laughed. “There she is,” he said as he brushed off the tears from her cheeks.
“You’re an idiot,” she said and he frowned.
“I think that was something you should have said with your inside voice,” he said. “Or was it more of a thought.”
“I thought it was in my head,” she said and he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.
“Talk to me, beautiful,” he said again.
Kylie took a long deep breath and sighed.
“Remember when I told you that I used to be the junior vice president for a finance company?” she asked and he nodded. “It was Lyon Fisk and Churchill.”
“Wait, you used to work in New York?” he asked, surprised. “What are the odds?”
“Well, since you were in New York then you know about the hostile takeover that took place, right?” she asked and he nodded before he laughed.
“Heck, the whole country knew about it.” He began walking towards the couch. “That. Was. Brutal.”
Kylie nodded and exhaled loudly.
“Yeah and I was the one that made it happen,” she said.
“What?” he asked raising an eyebrow over the other.
“I had just started dating this guy, Frankie. Cute as ever…perfection in every sense of the word but he was always interested in something else. He used me to get his foot into Lyon Fisk and Churchill and once he did, I was trash to him.”
“What?” he asked.
“Turns out that he was Lyon Fisk’s illegitimate son or something of the sort and he had a fiancé,” she went on explaining. “Melissa. Tall, skinny and blond. Everything I wasn’t.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said as he looked at her and she shrugged.
“Well, long story short, I have been single since then,” she said. “And it sucks that I feel like I am reliving history.”
Sean looked at her and shook his head.
“Reliving history?” he echoed. “How exactly?”
“Danielle,” she said and he shrugged.
“What about her?” he asked.
“Come on, you are telling me that you did not get the vibe she was throwing? The way she was holding you and taking every chance to touch you…she even suggested that the two of you should get together.”
“Oh please, me and Danielle?” he asked. “That ship sailed a long time ago. It sailed hit an iceberg and sunk taking everyone down with it.”
“I think you just described The Titanic except for the ‘everyone dying’ part,” she said and he walked up to where she was.
“Well, to me that was what happened,” he said. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close to him. “I think whatever this Frankie guy did to you was so bad that you no longer value yourself as you are supposed to.” He gently slipped a hand behind her neck and looked into her slightly puffy eyes. “Give me a chance and let me prove that to you. That is all I ask.”
“What?” she asked in a soft voice.
“Give me a chance,” he said again.
She was quiet for a long second before she nodded.
“So does that mean that you are going to let me take you out on a proper date?” he asked and she shrugged.
“So are we finally doing the cliché dinner and a movie?”
He smiled and shook his head.
“Actually, no,” he said and she frowned.
“Again…making assumptions that are making an ass of both of us,” she thought as she looked at him.
“The AMA is giving me my work with the homeless around the country,” he said and she shrugged.
“You work with the homeless?” she asked and he nodded. “Could you be any more perfect?”
“Yeah, I run a number of free clinics around the country. I started the program to make sure that everyone got access to decent healthcare,” he said and she raised an eyebrow over the other.
“Wow,” she said in a soft voice.
“I usually hate these award ceremonies but having you there is maybe going to make it worth it,” he said.
“Worth it? You are getting a freaking award,” she said and he shook his head.
“Have you been to one of those things? Every hospital on the planet tries to get you in their hospital…it’s exhausting.” He gently dug his fingers into her waist making her whimper a little. “But this time round, having you…having sexy Kylie Moran with me might be what makes the difference.”
“When?” she asked in practically a whisper.
“Friday,” he said.
Chapter 6
“This is a bad idea,” Kylie thought as she looked at her reflection. “This is a very bad idea.”
She had been second-guessing herself ever since Sean asked her out. Actually, she had been second-guessing herself ever since she agreed…but as much as she tried, she just could not bring herself to calling off the date with Sean. The last man she had been with was Frankie and that was far from s
erious on so many levels. She held a dress against her body and then another and then another…nothing seemed right. Dinner would have been simpler but this was more than just dinner. This was one of those red carpet events. Hell, it was so much worse than an opera.
After having a discussion with Sean about the charity event, she had done her research and found out that what she had in her closet was not going to cut it. She had gone shopping but even though she had thought that she looked beautiful in the dresses she bought, she was having a hard time deciding on what to wear. She had already done her hair and make-up and having done this, she knew that the dress she finally decided on would have to look good with her long brunette hair worn down in loose wavy curls.
She was still looking into the mirror when she heard her doorbell ringing loudly, resounding through her apartment.
“Shit,” she thought as she looked at her phone. She had been spending so much time looking into her reflection that she had forgotten that Sean was picking her up at seven.
“Damn it…damn it,” she thought as she walked to the front door. She pulled her bathrobe and held it together against her chest as she opened the door. A smile played on her lips when she saw Sean. He looked dashing in a dark grey slim suit, white shirt and black tie. She had never seen anyone look sexier than he did at that moment.
“Hi,” she said in a whisper.
“Hi,” Sean said in a smooth voice.
“Wow…you look…wow,” she said smiling. “Not that you don’t normally look great but you really do look amazing.”
Sean smiled and nodded.
“Thank you, thank you very much,” he said in a mock Elvis Presley voice and then he looked at her from head to toe. “Make-up done, hair done… Should I have dressed down or something?” Kylie laughed and shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I just have a little…” she bit her lower lip when her words trailed off and she stepped aside. “Please come in.”
“Kylie Moran, well rounded Catholic girl inviting me, a man, into her apartment?” he asked with a hand on his chest. “But you barely know me.”
“Just get in here,” she said as she reached for his jacket and gently pulled her in.
“I love a woman in charge,” he said as he walked in and she felt herself blushing again.
“I was just about to get dressed. I’m sorry, I’m running a little late.”
“Just make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back,” she said before she practically ran down the hallway to her room. She did not even give him a chance to respond, not that it mattered. She settled on a sleeveless maxi flowing blue dress that had a waist defining mid-section. After putting on a silver pair of high heeled sandals and a small matching clutch. She looked into her reflection for the umpteenth time and then at her messy bed and sighed before she slowly made her way out to the living room.
“Wow,” she heard Sean say in a low whisper. “So that was what was under the bathrobe?”
A smile played on her lips as her cheeks flushed a bright crimson.
“You look gorgeous,” he said in a low voice and she smiled again.
“Thanks,” she said. “You look…I don’t even know what to say. I’m not even sure I am fit to be standing next to you today.”
Sean got up and walked up to where she was before he slipped an arm around her waist making her gasp silently. He pulled her close and looked into her eyes.
“You are perfect.” He gently stroked the side of her face. “I would be honored to stand with you any day.”
“Honored? That’s a bit of a big word,” she said in a soft voice.
“Because you deserve it,” Sean said to her. “Now come on. I want to show you off.”
*****
Contrary to Kylie’s nature, she was quiet all the way to the hotel. Sean reached out and took her hand in his and she turned to look at him.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked.
“I don’t think you have enough pennies,” she said smiling.
“Alright,” he said in a soft voice. “I can write you a check.”
“It would have to be a pretty big check.”
“Well, did I mention that being awarded as the best practice in California comes with a big chunk of change?” he asked and she shook her head. “Well it does, so you know I can definitely give you a little something for your thoughts.”
Kylie smiled.
“Come on, let me know what’s bothering you,” he said.
“This,” she said in a tired whisper. “I have never been to any of these fancy things. My sisters, they are the big fancy ones and…” she looked at him and shrugged.
“The fancy ones and what?” he asked.
“I’m just not used to this life,” she said.
“Should I be sorry I asked you out?” he asked and she shook her head.
“Don’t be. This is your big night,” she said. He held the side of her face and for a second, she was scared of what was going to happen next. He was so close to her she thought he was going to lean in and kiss her.
“We’re here. Just smile and wave,” he whispered.
“Really? Like the penguins of Madagascar?” she asked and he nodded.
“Yeah, just like the penguins of Madagascar. If you want, we can bunk out and go watch the movie. I’d be watching it for the millionth time but it would be worth it.”
Kylie smiled and shook her head.
“This is your big night. And you told me before, it’s your first major award.” She began drawing small circles at the back of his hand. “Let’s sit in until they call your name and then we can do the movie.”
*****
Needless to say, Kylie had a better time at the ceremony than she expected. By the time they got back to her apartment, it was almost midnight.
“This was great,” she said in a soft voice as they stood outside her door.
“Yeah it was. We should do it again soon,” he said in a soft voice and she nodded.
“Yeah we should.” He was looking right into her brown eyes and he was slowly moving towards her.
“Rain check on that movie,” he whispered as he slipped an arm around her waist. He pulled her close to her and she tightened her grip around her clutch to keep it from dropping.
“That’s okay,” she whispered as he lowered his lips to kiss her softly. She closed her eyes as she felt his lips gently brushing against hers. She could feel her cheeks hot and flushed when she pulled away. When she opened her eyes, she was looking right into his piercing blue-green eyes and suddenly, panic set in. her gaze dropped and she pulled away from him making him slightly confused.
“What’s wrong?” he asked and she shook her head.
“This is…all this is wrong,” she said in a soft voice.
“What is?” he asked and she waved a hand between them.
“This. You and me,” she said. “There is absolutely no way it is going to work. Whatever this is…we are doomed to fail, Sean. I can just feel it.”
Sean looked into her eyes and held her chubby face in his hands.
“Whatever this is…I wouldn’t want anything less or more.” He gently stroked the side of her face and then her hair. “Do you know something, Kylie?” She shook her head as she felt her eyes welling up with tears.
“You know right now, at this moment, there is no other place I would rather be.” He gently slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “This is exactly where I want to be right now. Where I need to be.”
“But why me?” she shook her head again as a single tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t understand.”
“Because you stole my heart, Kylie. That’s why,” he said in a soft voice as he lowered his head to kiss her again. She exhaled into his mouth and he dug his fingers into her luscious folds. She was moaning a little louder than she would have wanted to and it didn’t even bother her that at any moment, one of her neighbors would have walked by and seen her. And why should she have cared? She was in the arms
of a gorgeous man whom she had genuine feelings for. Nothing else mattered at that moment except for the two of them and their small but perfect world. They were both panting by the time he pulled away from her.
“I really want to invite you in,” she said in a soft voice.
“Then why don’t you?” he asked and without saying anything, she stepped aside for her to walk in. She had barely closed the door when he suddenly pinned her against it making her gasp as her clutch dropped to the floor making a cluttering noise. He kissed her as he held her hands against the wooden door above her head. She closed her eyes as she felt his tongue inside her mouth, caressing the soft insides of her mouth. The sound she was making at the back of her throat woke up the rest of him. She knew this because she could suddenly feel his cock hard and alive pressing against her pelvis. His hands slowly ran down her arms, caressing her as she went on. She rolled her head to the side when she felt him sweeping her hair to one side so that he could kiss her neck. She was breathing hard and fast as she felt her entire body working in perfect rhythm, something she had not felt in a long time. His hands went even lower, roaming all over her body caressing her full breasts as she went on. His hand ran down to the taper of her dress and down to her fleshy bottom where he once more dug his fingers into her flesh. She brought her hands down to hold him, caress him but he pinned them above her head again letting her know who was in control as their tongues danced in her mouth. He felt the smooth veneer of her teeth and tasted the rich grape of the wine they’d had earlier.
A gasp escaped her lips when she felt the zipper of her dress being pulled down. He took a step back to look at her body as her dress gathered around her ankles like a canopy of blue roses. She noticed a smile playing on his lips as his eyes ran down her body. He took her hand and led her to the couch. He then held her close and kissed her lips, and then her neck, and then her shoulder as his hand slipped to her back to undo the clasp of her bra. When her bra fell off revealing her breasts to him, she crossed her arms over her chest hiding her breasts.
“No, don’t,” he said in a soft voice. “Don’t hide your beauty from me,” he whispered as he pulled her arms apart. He looked into her eyes for a long minute before he brought his hands up to gently caress the soft full mounds. He lowered her onto the couch and knelt in between her legs as he kissed her tummy softly. She could feel goose bumps forming on her skin as he moved up her torso. When he filled his hand with her left breast, he took her breast into his hot mouth. She gasped and whimpered as she held on to the edge of the couch. It was not easy containing herself as he sucked and nibbled on her highly sensitive nipple making it harden against his tongue. He pulled away from her breast and she breathed a sigh of relief but it was short lived because he then traced his tongue across her chest to take her other nipple into his mouth.