Temptation (The Temptation Series)

by K. M. Golland

  “Have a seat Alexis.”

  “No thanks I’ll stand.” Screw him. He walked right up to me.

  “Why the disappearing act?”

  “What disappearing act?” I played dumb.

  “Why have you spent nearly four hours away from your desk?” Because you infuriate me!

  “I had loose ends to tie up and a meeting with Marketing.” I’m not 14 Bryce, nor am I grounded, back the fuck off!

  “I need you at your desk.” I need you to take me on my desk. Alexis, you are angry with him remember?

  “Why?” He didn’t answer, he dropped the bad cop attitude.

  “Why are you angry with me?” He was a bloody Yo-Yo.

  “I’m not.” I was lying, I just wanted to go home. I glanced at my watch. Thank God.

  “You are and it has something to do with Chelsea.” He stepped away from me and headed to the buffet where he poured himself a drink and then smirked at me. That does it!

  “You know what Bryce? You’re right, I am pissed with you and do you want to know why?” I didn’t give him time to answer.

  “Because you have completely turned my world upside down, not only have you single-handedly changed my career path from under me, you have continuously flirted with me, invaded my privacy, taunted me with playful games, lured me in with expensive gifts and a ‘non-negotiable’ and absurd salary increase. You have played on the obvious sexual tension we share and have forced me to cross the line with you, this might be a game for you but it’s not for me. So if you want to play your little touchy feely, wine and dine games with Miss Hogan, go right ahead, I’m going home to fuck my husband.”

  I grabbed my bag and made for the door. He had my arm in a flash once again and pulled me to him. Geez he was quick.

  “Let me go.”

  “No, Alexis.”

  “Let me go Bryce.” He looked deep into my eyes and pleaded with me.

  “Ask me to kiss you Alexis. Please ask me, or so help me god I will break my promise.”

  “No. Let me go, I am not your toy, if you want a toy go and play with Chelsea.”

  “I don’t want a toy Alexis, I don’t want Chelsea either, I want you. I want you so fucking badly it is driving me crazy, I’ve never wanted anyone or anything more in my life.” His grip tightened on my arm.

  “You’re killing me Alexis, you walk into my office looking so God damn sexy and tease me with your lingerie, then disappear for hours. You‘re jealous, Alexis and you want me too, just admit it.”

  “Let me go.” I was close to tears, I wrenched my arms up and hit both his inner elbows hard breaking his grip on me. Ha, thanks for that trick! I felt like bursting, bursting with anger, with regret, with lust, with bloody everything and I did just that, I screamed at him.

  “Yes I want you, I want to fuck the living shit out you.” I started to cry.

  “Do I like to see you touch other women? No, no I don’t. Do I feel a thousand tiny tingles go up and down my spine and into my loins whenever you touch me? Yes, yes I do. Am I exhilarated and alive whenever I am with you? Yes. Do I want to take it further? Yes, yes I fucking do but that’s not the point Bryce. It doesn’t matter that I want you, it doesn’t matter that you want me, I took vows, to honor to respect and to be faithful and I can’t break them. I won’t go behind Rick’s back, ever! So what we want doesn’t matter. I’m sorry.” I touched his cheek and then left.

  My head was a mess. The look of shock that was plastered on his face when I confessed to him, was still stuck in my head. He had texted me on my way home asking me if I was leaving for good, I told him once again, ‘I’m not going anywhere’. The problem was if we both felt this way it was inevitable that I would have to leave at some point. When I walked through the front door I was wrecked, the heels got kicked off, the bag got dumped and I collapsed onto the couch. Charlotte was on me almost instantly, she gave me a kiss and stood in my heels.

  “Whoa, these are hard.” She stumbled around the living room.

  “I know munchkin and they hurt too.” I rubbed my feet.

  “Where’s your brother?”

  “Here.” Nate came into the room and flopped next to me.

  “Hi gorgeous boy.” I kissed his forehead.

  “Mum, how was work?”

  “It was, interesting. To say the least! Oh guess what I learnt today?” I wearily stood up.

  “Self Defence.” I did a ninja pose and Nate laughed, I must have been in the moment because when Rick came in and put his hand on my shoulder I spun around and whacked him on the elbow.

  “Ouch, Geezus Alexis.” He rubbed his arm and Charli laughed.

  “Oh shit, I’m sorry Babe.” I went to rub his arm and he grabbed me and crossed both my arms behind me.

  “Get out of this one.”

  “I can you know, but I’ll hurt you.”

  “Sure you will.” He let me uncross my arms then bear hugged me and kissed my cheek.

  “So what’s for tea?” All three of them were looking at me.

  “Really? Um, well your choices are, Pizza, Pizza and guess what? Pizza. I’m plonking my butt on this couch and I’m not moving.”

  It seemed everyone was happy with Pizza on the floor in front of the TV. I really was exhausted, not just physically but mentally and more to the point, emotionally. The kids helped Rick clean up then did their homework and went to bed, I decided a long hot bubble bath was well and truly needed, that or Girls Weekend away. Seeing the Girls Weekend was not going to happen right here and right now I opted for the bubble bath, the idea of a girly getaway did sound good so much so that I decided to ring Tash and get her on to it.

  My Bath was bliss, pure bliss, my feet were thanking me for the hot lavender soak and the tension that was radiating through my body started to ease. I grabbed my phone, being careful not to drop it, I had done that once before, Tash picked up.

  “Lexi, how you goin Luv, still drooling over that boss of yours? I hate you, you do realise that don’t you?”

  “Love you too Tash, I need a Girls Weekend away, in our Barrel.” Our ‘Barrel’ was our little sanctuary away from normality, it was at Tranquil Hot Springs Day Spa down on the Coast. A large Wine Barrel cut in half and filled with Naturally Thermal Spring Water with a temperature of 40 degrees.

  “I’m hearing you Luv.”

  “You busy this weekend? I need it, STAT! My treat, get Lil, Steph and Jade on to it as well Yeah?”

  “Your treat? Piss Off.”

  “No I’m serious Hun, It’s a long story and an Emergency, I know it’s late notice but I’m desperate. Pleaseeeee?”

  “Alright, I’m on to it, Barrel here we come.” She hung up and I pictured her doing her ruffle butt dance.

  I soaked for about an hour then got out, I pulled on my nightie and collapsed face down onto the bed, minutes later Rick was at the base of the bed rubbing my feet.

  “That’s great.” I moaned, into the pillow, he started rubbing not only my feet but my calves and slowly up to my thighs. He leant down and kissed the back of my knee, I giggled

  “That tickles.” He hiked up my nightie exposing my bare arse and slapped me hard.

  “Ooww that hurt.” He chuckled then kissed it better, I rolled onto my back. He lifted my left leg and started trailing kisses down it, he lifted my other leg and did the same, this time kissing all the way down and skimming my clitoris ever so slightly. He knelt at the base of me and removed his shirt, I sat up and helped him unbuckle his trousers yanking them down impatiently.

  “In a hurry Baby?” He gently pushed me back on the bed and kissed me, then kissed my neck.

  “I need you Babe.” I wasn’t lying, I really did need him, I needed to feel the same excitement that pulsed through me when I was with Bryce, I needed to feel that with Rick, I needed it for reassurance maybe? Up until now, I had never in our 12 years of marriage doubted our physical connection. He licked my nipple and then stretched it with his lips, I put my hands in his hair and massaged his head. He
came back up to my mouth and kissed me passionately, I rolled him over so that I was straddling him and climbed on top of his erection and started pumping it. He gripped my hips and helped with the motion, I quickened my pace, I wanted his hardness as far inside me as he could go, I quickened even more.

  “Not yet Baby.” He sat up and lifted me off him, I got on all fours and he re-entered me softly. He controlled the pace now, starting slowly he pushed himself inside me, gradually pushing faster and harder until his balls were slapping my arse, we both came together and he filled me. Rick loved my breasts, he massaged them with his large hands as I continued to orgasm.

  “I love you Alexis.” He groaned.

  “I know Babe, I love you too.” I was breathless and completely and utterly spent.

  The next morning I was running late, Nate had spent more than enough time in the bathroom and when he did finally come out he smelt of Joop, the thing was, my 9 year old did not own a bottle of Joop, his father did. Charlotte had asked what the smell was in the car, she knew very well what the smell was, she was just trying to stir her brother. I kissed Nate through the car window and whispered in his ear.

  “Not so much next time ok?” He went pink in the face and sniffed his collar.

  “One spray dude, trust me.” I winked at him and he nodded back.

  Thankfully the traffic was light on the Freeway, it wasn’t until I turned onto Kings Way that we came to a complete halt, the problem was the car behind me had not noticed the traffic ahead had stopped. I saw him coming in the rear-vision mirror so braced myself, the hit was hard, so hard it pushed me into the car in front and set my air-bag off. It happened so quickly, that if it weren’t for the big white balloon in my face and the loud noise from the impact, I may not have realised that it did just in fact happen. I sat there in shock and eventually gathered my head as a man came up to my window, I opened the door, it sounded awful but opened with reluctance.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Yeah.” I was pretty sure I was, I went to unbuckle my seat belt and get out.

  “No stay there, I’ve called an Ambulance.”

  “I don’t need an Ambulance, I’m fine.”

  “No stay there, you’ve been hit quite hard.” Great this was just what I needed, I was going to be late and without a car for God knows how long, I reached for my phone.

  “Alexis, is everything alright?”

  “I’m going to be late Bryce, I’ve been in an accident, my car is fucked and they’ve called an Ambulance. I’m fine but…..”

  “Where are you?” His spoke fast.

  “I’m just on the Kings Way off ramp, not even 5 bloody minutes away…..”

  “I’m on my way.”

  “What? No, I’m fine…” He hung up, shit, I’m fine.

  “I’m just pissed off…..” I started to yell.

  “Pissed off that some dickhead wasn’t watching where they were going.” Screw this, I’m getting out. I stepped out of the car and had to steady myself, the man that had come to my window was by my side again.

  “You really shouldn’t move Ma’am.”

  “Thank you but I’m fine.” I could hear sirens and knew the Ambulance was not far away, I looked at my car, my poor car resembled that cube thingy from Transformers. My tailgate was well and truly pushed in and jammed, the bonnet had bent up and made its way closer to the windscreen and it was leaking radiator fluid. Fuck, this was going to be a pain in the arse. I was ready to go and give the guy behind me a peace of my mind, when I heard a Helicopter. I looked up and saw a chopper fast approaching and circling to land in the nearby vacant lot next to the off ramp. At first I thought it was a Medi-Chopper but soon realised it was ‘The Crow’. Oh No! He flew here, really? Talk about overreaction. I watched him jump out of the chopper and sprint up the ramp like a mad man, he ran straight up to me and cupped my face, I don’t know if I was in more shock from the accident or from this over animated dash to my aid.

  “Alexis, are you ok? Are you hurt? Is anything Broken? You really shouldn’t be standing here.” Before I knew it he had swept me off my feet and was carrying me to the side of the road, where he placed me down.

  “Bryce, what are you doing? Seriously I’m fine, stop making such a fuss, I’m fine.” People were now looking at me and the frantic Helicopter Pilot who just ran up an off ramp to an accident scene and rescued the damsel in distress.

  “Where’s the bloody Ambulance?” He ran his hand through his hair and was clearly distraught. That’s when it struck me, the accident! The car accident, of course he was freaking out over the accident because of his parents and brother. Oh Shit, I should never have called him. Alexis you bloody idiot. I got up and grabbed his hand, he was searching around looking for the Ambulance.

  “Bryce, Bryce look at me.” I turned his head to get his full attention.

  “I’m fine, see? I’m fine.” His panic, started to slowly fade, he grabbed me and squeezed me tight.

  “Shit Alexis, you scared me half to death.”

  “I know, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have called you like that. I didn’t think, I’m so sorry.” He pulled back.

  “Don’t be, shit if anything had happened to you, I…” He stopped mid-sentence.

  “Alexis I’d die if anything happened to you. I, I lov…..” A paramedic interrupted him and knelt down beside me. What? Holly Shit, was he about to say the ‘L’ word? Oh fuck I hope not!

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The Paramedic was a young man, with ginger hair and an Irish accent.

  “Hi there, what’s your name Ma’am?” I loved Irish accents, I smiled at him.

  “Alexis.”

  “Alexis how are you feeling? Do you have any pain anywhere?” He started checking me with a mini torch, shining it into my eyes then away, then into my eyes again. Bryce was telling me he loved me, I’m sure he was in the middle of saying Love. Maybe I have concussion and he really isn’t here and I’m just imagining it, or maybe I’m day dreaming this whole accident. Now that’s a possibility, my day dreams have been just a tad vivid lately! I pinched myself. Ouch, that didn’t work. I pinched Bryce, he looked stunned.

  “What is she doing? Alexis what are you doing?

  “Huh? I’m, I’m.” Not a day dream! “I’m, fine.” Bryce looked at the Paramedic, concern covering his face.

  “Did you hit your head? Black-out for any time at all?” ‘Ginger’ placed his hands on my neck and felt the base of my skull.

  “No really I’m fine.” I sat up straighter, he got me to perform a few movement and response tests then took down my details, he was happy to let me go.

  “If you notice any vision changes, or black-out, or experience severe headaches, sharp pain or imbalance in any way, please go directly to Hospital. You may feel a little drowsy and that’s ok. You will have some whiplash and bruising where your seat belt has restrained you, he touched my shoulder and chest lightly to indicate a redness already appearing. If the pain from whiplash becomes quite severe, again make your way down to the Hospital. Refrain from anything strenuous or any heavy lifting and take it easy for a day or two.” He gave me a reassuring smile then walked off.

  The guy behind me though was not so lucky; he suffered a broken collarbone and concussion and was taken by ‘Ginger’ to Hospital. The police also attended the scene; they interviewed me quickly, as to the version of events and were assessing the damage to the cars and directing traffic around us. I rang my Insurance Company and they arranged a tow truck for my crumpled car. The traffic jam had thrown the Westgate FWY into chaos.

  Before we took off in the helicopter, Bryce had to wait for air traffic clearance due to a couple of News/Media Choppers flying around, he was flicking switches and looking at gauges.

  “You really didn’t need to fly here you know.” He kept doing all his checks.

  “Yes I did.”

  “No you didn’t, I understand your concern because of your family but not every accident will have the same horrible outcome Bryce. A
ll I’m saying is, I’m fine and I could’ve caught a taxi, this was all a bit much, I’m grateful that you came, don’t get me wrong, it’s just I feel like an idiot.” I looked out the window, I felt so embarrassed, I should never have told him about the accident, the part about being late, yes, but the accident, no.

  “You didn’t hear me did you?” The engine got louder and we took off, I could understand now just how quickly he had gotten to the accident because we were landing at City Tower before I had even processed what he had said to me as we took off. The rotors started to slow and he was flicking lots of switches again, he climbed out of the cockpit and came around to my door. He unbuckled me and lifted me onto the roof, as we stood there staring at each other wind blowing around us, I started to get a bit dizzy.

  “I think I need to sit down.” It probably had more to do with him staring at me the way he was, rather than the accident but I didn’t tell him that. He scooped me up in his arms again, and carried me towards his apartment.

  “Bryce put me down, you can’t keep doing this.”

  “I can and I will.” There’s just no arguing with this man, he’s the most stubborn person I’ve ever come across, he placed me down on his lounge and knelt beside me.

  “Bryce, you are going way over the top, I have legs and I can use them.” He interrupted me.

  “I know you have legs, I want them wrapped around me.” I blushed.

  “That’s not going to happen, you know that don’t you?” I was starting to get sleepy.

  “I know nothing of which you speak.” If I had more energy I would’ve rolled my eyes but I did manage a smile.

  “Alexis, I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with you.” My eyes flew wide open.

  “You’re not Bryce, you can’t.”

  “I am and I can and I have.” I couldn’t stop staring at him, this gorgeous, handsome and sexy knight in shining armour was knelt by me, confessing his love and all I could do was stare. My eyelids became quite heavy and I found myself fighting to keep them apart, as I drifted into unconsciousness I felt him kiss my forehead.