by Nicky Fox
“Do you want me to finish you?” I ask, sliding down to the carpet.
“No, sugar. This is just act one.” He sucks on his thumb. The one he was using to strum my clit, and my legs almost give out. Jake tucks himself back in his pants and zips them up. “Are you ready to go?” Am I ready to go? Fuck, yes. I’ll go anywhere with him for act two. Damn. We adjust our clothing and I fix a few things on my desk that were shuffled around during our tryst. When everything is back in its place and I’m ready with my purse over my shoulder, he extends his hand out to me. I glance at him, confused. It’s such a boyfriend move. I go ahead and take his hand. He unlocks the office door and we’re off like a prom dress.
8
I assume we’re heading back to his apartment, but he surprises me again and takes me to a little Italian restaurant. I guess we’re not just fucking, but eating partners too? We’re sitting at the table with a small candle flickering between us. It’s a quiet and calm atmosphere. I’ve never been to this place before, but I’ll definitely have to add it to my list of places to eat in the city. It’s really quite charming and the breadsticks are awesome. I sip on my white wine. I don’t want to stain my teeth for sexy time later.
“Do you like working at DFW Designs?” Jake brings me out of my reverie. Normally, I would automatically say yes, but with him I debate his question. Do I like working there? I’m appreciative of the opportunities they’re giving me and I’m happy I landed that huge client. I’m not a fan of Trent or his tight hold on my accounts. He has a tendency to hover and to control a lot of my direction in the company. It makes me nervous. I don’t want my whole career resting on the shoulders of a guy who possibly might feel jilted at some point.
“Yes and no. I guess that’s with every job though. I like most of the people I work with and I did just land a big client today.” I grin as I finish that sentence. I’m proud that my past work has earned me such a high-profile client.
“I’m guessing you don’t like your boss?” He cocks his head. How did he pick up on that? I always try and make a conscious effort to not project my disdain for my boss. My eyebrows scrunch together. “You said you like most of the people, which usually means you don’t like your boss. I also noticed the stress in your face when I mentioned work. A boss usually creates that much stress at the workplace.” He sits back and drinks his beer. Jake is very astute. Yeah, he’s great with numbers, but people? It seems at every turn he shows me something new about himself.
“Well, Mr. Calloway keeps asking me out and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t want my whole career in his hands, because of that. On the other hand, he’s given me experience in the field and I’m beginning to create a name for myself.” I don’t think I’ve ever thought about my career this in-depth. I was just happy to have a good paying job when I started there. I still am, but I would like a little more security. It’s ridiculous to have to worry about my boss firing me because I won’t go out with him. I also want a supervisor who will leave me to my designs and trust my judgment on things. I feel constricted at DFW Designs. I wish I could branch out.
“Is he being inappropriate or derogatory toward you?” Jake’s face is very serious. He’s usually intense but this look is almost frightening.
“No, it’s nothing like that yet. He hasn’t made sexual advances or anything. He always wants to grab a drink, and I fear one day, after too many rejections, he’ll want to let me go.” It’s the truth.
“You shouldn’t have to work in an environment like that. I could talk to him if you wanted me to.” Jake has relaxed his demeanor a little, but I’m not buying it. I can tell he’s like a wolf ready to pounce. Jake wants to go after Trent. My heart soars at his offer and I’m flattered. I’ve never had a guy willing to go to bat for me. I can’t help smiling at him, but I’m not ready for that.
“I’m okay right now. I think I can handle Mr. Calloway. Do you like your work?” I’m interested in his job. His brother, Hunter, has mentioned multiple times how much Jake works. He either loves his job or he’s running from something. I’d love to know which it is. My question, however, is diverted when our food arrives. We both ordered the lasagna. After the waiter fills our drinks and leaves, the question is left by the wayside.
“Where do you live?” Jake asks. We’re both in his black Porsche after dinner. It was a great time. I haven’t had many dates that good, not that this is a date. It’s just been a long time since I’ve had a nice dinner with someone of the opposite sex. He was inquisitive and witty. It’s refreshing when you can volley back and forth over dinner. We didn’t really speak of anything of consequence. For some reason that meant more than other difficult discussions we’ve had. It shows we can stand to be around each other and even go toe to toe on subjects.
“It’s the Magnolia Garden apartments off of Beach Street.” My place is nothing like his loft apartment. Maggie and I’s home is a cracker box. There’s nothing special or unique about it. Luckily, the complex has a well-equipped gym I use on a regular basis. I wonder if Maggie’s home. That might be an awkward encounter. Actually, every encounter with Maggie is awkward. I giggle to myself.
“What’s so funny?” Jake tilts his head and stares at me while we’re stopped at a red light. It’s dark now in the car. The city lights are casting a warm glow across his face. He’s so attractive. I lick my lips and concentrate on answering his question. I’m never this discombobulated. Men don’t get to me like he does. I’m a tigress, a queen of her domain. I’m never awestruck by some guy; it’s the other way around usually. Well, except for the one asshole who shall not be named.
“You haven’t really met my roommate, Maggie, have you?”
“I saw her at the wedding, I think. We never spoke and I was not formally introduced to her.” He seems curious about my question but I’ll just let him figure it out for himself when he meets her. This should be fun. I smirk and look straight ahead. I’m looking forward to this interaction immensely.
Jake puts the Porsche in park at my apartment building. We sit there for a minute. I don’t know if he’s just dropping me off or if he’s coming up. I reach to grab the handle, but he pulls my other hand so I’m forced to lean into him. His other hand grabs the back of my head and soon his mouth is over mine. I instinctively grab his neck with both hands and bring him even closer. I moan against his face.
“Evie.” That one word kills me. I need this kiss. I lap at his mouth and move across the console. He doesn’t seem to mind that I’m taking over. I move down each of the buttons on his shirt, unbuttoning them. I need to see his body and feel his hot skin against my hands. I’m glad Jake has really dark tinting in his car. Too bad the windshield isn’t. I’d already be naked in his crotch. “Evie.” Fuck. He’s getting me riled up. I’m palming his chest, rocking in his lap, and kissing him like it’s my last breath. Jake’s rock hard between my legs and ready for some lovin’.
“Jake,” I moan. His hands grip my ass cheeks under my dress. They mold and squeeze as he kisses down my neck to my cleavage. I run my hands through his hair and press his lips against my skin. There’s a quick swipe of his tongue between my breasts. I pull his head back up and attack him with my mouth. Our tongues mingle and we’re both panting now. We can’t keep our hands off each other, like magnets. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m usually able to handle myself around a guy, but he makes me feel so wonderfully out of control. I want to give it all to him, which is dangerous for me. I did that once before and I promised myself, never again.
There’s an abrupt knock on the window. I gasp and look at the figure outside the car. Damn. It’s Maggie and she has the biggest grin on her face. I feel like I’ve been caught making out with my boyfriend by my mom. This is so embarrassing. I scuttle back to my seat and whip the passenger side door open.
“Maggie! Damn it. What the hell? You can’t just go knocking on car windows during times like that. Normal people would give us some privacy, you know?” I huff. Seriously, she just denied me
a ride on his gear shift. With my arms crossed and tapping my foot, I see Jake out of the corner of my eye buttoning up and adjusting himself in the car. I whimper at the sight.
Maggie just giggles. I don’t think she understands how amazing Jake’s cock is and how close we were to sealing the deal in there. I grunt at her. She’s looking between Jake and me with mirth. “I thought that was you, Evie. Damn, you were getting hot and heavy. Is this a Porsche?” She shakes her head at her comment probably aware she’s starting to ramble. “Anyway, if you wanted privacy, you shouldn’t have been in a parking lot. I was about to bring down my lawn chair and a bag of popcorn. You were all over him.” She laughs. The woman is infuriating sometimes. I wonder where she grew up. She has no boundaries. I bet she drove her siblings nuts, if she has any.
Jake rises out of the car like some son of Zeus. He doesn’t look rumpled or out of sorts at all. I, on the other hand, probably look like something the cat dragged in. I run my hands through my hair and pull my dress down.
“Maggie, I presume?” He holds his hand out for her to shake. She slaps his hand away. My mouth drops open. Then, she goes in for a hug. I swear I can’t take her anywhere.
“You just had your tongue down my friend’s throat. We don’t shake hands, we hug!” Maggie did not just say that. Again, she has no filter. She just says anything that pops in her head. “Evie’s had a glow about her since your sexathon. Thanks for that. She really needed to get some. She was starting to get crabby. Ha! Crabs, crab, clamshell. You touched her pearl.”
I drop my head into my hands. She means well, even though she acts like a twelve-year-old sometimes. I know she’s just socially awkward. Maggie gets nervous and starts to blab. How can she even run a business with the crap that comes out of her mouth? I look through my hands to see Jake staring at me with a smirk plastered on his face. He thinks this is hilarious. I need to defuse this situation and get him away from her.
“Well that was nice. Thanks for dropping me off, Jake. I’ll see you around.” I go around the car to grab Maggie’s arm and haul her with me up the stairs to our apartment. I whisper yell at her, “I can’t believe you said all that shit. I mean, do you even hear yourself? That was humiliating. You’re lucky. I’m not going to kick your ass when we get back to the apartment.” I shove her through the door and slam it shut.
“Oh, please, like you could take me. Plus, Jake seemed cool. He’s totally into you.” I could take Maggie. I’m light and agile. I also have height on her. Wait.
“What do you mean he’s totally into me? How can you tell?” Do I want Jake to be into me? I mean, I want him in me but do I want a relationship with him? I don’t know if I want a relationship with any man right now. I’m still getting over the previous asshole.
“For one, good job in the crotch department. He’s totally hung like a horse. Two, are you blind? Did you not see the way he looks at you?” Maggie grabs an apple from a bowl on the dining table. She takes a big bite and chews it like she’s a cow. She’s sputtering and spit is flying. I look at her incredulously.
“He looks like he wants to eat me and that’s just fine by me. We’re just fuck buddies.” I smile and throw my purse down on the couch and slump into the cushion. I’m pouting because I was clam blocked by Maggie the crab.
“You’re so full of bullshit.” I twist my head at her remark. What? “I might be weird and say things that make people uncomfortable, but at least I’m honest with myself. That dude really likes you. Shit, he may even be in love with you. I can tell. Yeah, sure he looks at you like you’re a meal he wants to devour, but when you’re ruffled and out of sorts . . . that’s when there’s a twinkle in his eye. It’s so sweet. I wish a guy looked at me like that.”
Knock. Knock. Maggie bounds to the door and swings it wide open. I turn and see Jake standing like a sex god in the doorway. I sigh at the sight. Damn, I’ve got it bad. I look at him with new eyes. Is Maggie right? Does he want to date me? I dismiss that idea quickly. He’s not the type. Work is his love. Maggie has literally spent like three minutes with him. She can’t tell with just a look. She’s probably just reading more into this.
“Couldn’t get enough of Evie? You back for more?” Maggie giggles.
I roll my eyes and she bounces out of the room. I hear the click of her bedroom door closing. I’m surprised she actually gave us some privacy. Normally, she’ll tell me to shove it and do what she wants. Maybe, she’s not so bad after all. Jake lets himself in and closes the door.
“I like your roommate. She’s funny.” He stands in our small living room and just stares at me. I fidget under his watchful eye.
“Yup, Maggie’s a riot. She needs to be muzzled with all the shit that comes out of her mouth.”
“Where’s your room?” Jake walks down the hallway Maggie retreated to. I jump up and follow him. He’s found my room before I can say anything. “I like it. It’s not what I expected from an interior designer.” Was that a compliment or an insult? I’m not sure. My expression must portray my confusion. Jake elaborates. “When I think of designers, I usually imagine cold, gallery type spaces, not homey like this.”
I smile. It was a compliment. I know exactly what he means. I don’t want my spaces to look like a perfect magazine cover. I want them to look lived in and loved, comfortable. It feels like he totally gets me, or my style rather. It’s ironic how he mentions how my place looks homey. Jake’s loft does look like a magazine cover. It’s cold and dark, there’s no color.
He leans in and kisses me softly. It’s sweet. I don’t imagine this kind of behavior from him, especially after our desk sex this afternoon. He’s been thoughtful and even took me out on a date. My hands go around his neck. I kick the door closed with my foot. I hope we’re finishing what we started in the car. I’m still horny and I know he hasn’t come yet. He must have blue balls so bad right now. I’d love to relieve him of that ache. My hand moves down to the front of his pants. I’m rewarded with a groan when I hit his rock hard package.
“Mmm, baby. Do you need me to take care of that for you?” I say against his lips. He grabs my wrist and pulls away from me. I frown at the loss of contact.
“Don’t call me baby. This isn’t a relationship. We’re not dating.”
I immediately retreat from him. That was a low blow. Wow, I don’t want a relationship either, but he doesn’t have to be a dick about it. That killed the mood. I sit down on the edge of my bed. Jake’s still standing by the door. He’s probably debating whether or not he should just bail. What the hell is this? Is this about his past relationship? The one that broke him down to what he is now, an eternal bachelor.
“What’s her name?” I look up at him. There’s shock on his face, but he covers it quickly. I know he’s shutting me out. I know we’re not together. I want to know what I’m dealing with here. Lenora confided in me that Jake had his heart broken in college and he hasn’t dated anyone since then. I know that’s why he’s so distant. His ex must have done a number on him.
“Who? I’m not seeing anyone else.” Well, that’s nice to know.
“We aren’t seeing each other, remember? What’s the name of the girl who broke your heart?” Jake’s avoiding eye contact with me. I’ve not seen him this rattled in the short time I’ve known him. He’s always calm and in control. He’s pacing my room, his arms are crossed, and he looks pissed. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. He stops in his tracks and looks at me. I don’t know if he’s debating telling me about her or if he’s trying to calm down before he chews me out.
“It was years ago. Her name’s Melissa. That’s all I’ll say about it.” With that, he turns and walks out my bedroom door.
Damn. I probably shouldn’t have pushed him. I flop down on my bed. I sigh and rub my forehead. I hear the front door slam closed. I might have just said goodbye to anymore sexy time with Jake. Sometimes what we have together feels solid and other times it’s fragile like it is now. I’ve never been this confused by a relationship or a non-relationshi
p.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Maggie yells through her bedroom wall. Oh my God. She probably heard our entire conversation. I forgot these walls are paper thin. I need to remember that in the future. I wouldn’t want Maggie hearing me get down and dirty with someone, especially Jake. He makes me howl. I sigh.
“No. Thanks, Maggie.” She means well. I decide to call Lee and meet up with her. I want to know if she can tell me anything else about this Melissa. I wonder how Jake was before he met her, before she broke his heart. He’s a little rough around the edges and comes off as a bit of a prick, but I think Jake’s a really descent person. He’s always helping people anyway he can. I know he helped Hunter with some complication with his farm.
I bet he was charming in college. He’d look really cute with a backpack on and glasses. I’m getting wet just thinking of him as a college student, that’s weird. I would’ve totally hit on him. He wouldn’t have had a chance to avoid me. I was a bit of a party girl though. Jake seems to be the good student type. Not that I failed any classes, I did quite well in school. I mean I had an easy degree. If I met a boy like Jake back then, I think I would’ve held on to him. Jake’s dreamy. Geez, look at me. It’s like I have a school girl crush. This is crazy. I need Lee’s take on all this.
9
Since Lee is far along in her pregnancy, I decide to meet her out at Sleepy Hollow Farm. I drive out to the most beautiful white farmhouse. Hunter does really great work. I’m always in awe of his craftsmanship. It’s funny to me that he’s a farmer. He could make a killing in construction and real estate. I know that’s not him though. He loves his grandfather’s farm. Lee loves it just as much as him. They’re two peas in a pod. They were made for each other, fated.