He was sketching madly while she made notes, suggested phrases, and rewrote copy. This time as the ideas flew there was no laughing or grimacing. Everything was gold.
“There’s nothing like this out there,” he said.
“Not in the least. Women are going to look at these ads and want to be the woman he’s looking at. This is going to blow them away.”
Her joy lit up her face and Daniel was having trouble focusing on what he was supposed to be doing. He was thrilled they’d finally found their winning combination, but even more thrilled to know she loved him. He was smiling like a fool, hearing her voice in his head repeating the words. As he worked he tried to put those thoughts into the expression on the face of the man in the ad.
“We’re going to get this account,” she said.
“I think you’re right.”
They ate leftovers and worked until they couldn’t see straight, finally stumbling into bed after midnight.
* * * * *
Waves of pleasure started softly across her skin, waking her gently. She reached toward the awareness, wanting more, needing more and as she did she woke to discover she was lying on her back with Daniel’s hand gently fondling her breasts under the t-shirt she fell asleep in. She wondered if she could still be dreaming, but she was too aware of his touch and her reaction. As her nipples hardened she considered opening her eyes, but decided instead to let the sensations caress her. Not knowing what he would do next added to the pleasure, and she let herself surrender to his arousing attention.
There was something magical about being desired to the point Daniel was willing to wake her. Knowing he couldn’t and wouldn’t wait for morning had heat pooling between her thighs.
His touch was a balm after days filled with uncertainty and fear. There was no one like him and she was both excited and grateful. She wasn’t alone anymore. Someone was with her. Someone was here for her.
“Daniel.” His name came out on a whisper.
“Yes, my sweet Lena?”
“I need you close.”
“I am close,” he said.
“Closer.”
He kissed her and said, “With pleasure.” His hand slipped into her underwear and directly to her pussy. The contact and knowing what was to come sent a shiver through her. “You’re close too. I think I’ll make you closer.”
As he teased her clit with his fingers, she lifted her hips to give him more contact, and they both used a hand to remove her panties.
“A touch and a kiss and my body is ready for you,” she said.
He placed her hand on his boxers and she gripped his erection. “Then we are, once again, well matched.”
He continued circling her sensitive bud, but as his fingers worked in and out of her, it wasn’t enough. “Please, Daniel, be inside of me.”
“Don’t you want—”
“You,” she interrupted. “I want you.”
He kissed her deeply and she knew he understood. As he rolled over to get a condom from his nightstand, she pulled off her t-shirt. When he returned to her they were both naked. She pulled him on top and spread her legs. Grabbing his long, thick cock she guided him into her.
“God yes,” she whispered.
“We’re perfect together,” he said and kissed her gently. Their mouths tasted and tongues explored each other in slow movements, mirrored by their bodies. They didn’t rush. There was no need. She caressed his back, marveling in his muscles moving under her hands. She noticed the feel of his legs between hers, the tingle of his chest hair on her breasts. Everywhere was feeling. Everywhere was love.
When his climax was close he arched away to stroke her clit and bring her to orgasm with him. As they shattered in each others’ arms, Lena knew she was more connected to her own heart and to someone else’s than ever before.
The last thing she remembered before falling back to sleep was saying, “I love you” in unison with the man who showed her the path back to her soul.
The next morning Lena could barely open her eyes and she pulled the covers over her face when Daniel brought her coffee in bed. He sat next to her and stroked her arm.
“How can you be up so early?” she asked when she finally peeked out and sipped the hot liquid. “And your hair is wet. You’ve gone for your run and showered.”
“Habit mostly. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I had a wonderful dream. A sexy man made love to me.”
“Now that does sound nice. Did you enjoy it?”
“Couldn’t you tell?”
He smiled then bent down to kiss her. She scooted over on the mattress and he joined her. “So,” he said after a while, “do we head back to the city today?”
She didn’t answer. They’d accomplished what they’d come out here to do. Now they needed the rest of the team to create the final product to show the client. But the idea of leaving didn’t really appeal. Unfortunately, she couldn’t offer a reason to stay so she nodded.
It was a while before she was ready to get out of bed, eat something and start the process of packing clothes, cleaning the dark room, and making certain everything in her art studio was properly stored. They talked about the campaign and jotted down ideas as they packed, but Lena could feel herself getting more nervous.
It was one thing to spend a few days away from everyone and everything. With no intrusions of friends, family and careers and tucked in their own little haven, everything was simple and wonderful. He made her feel safe, sexy and loved, but would it change once they were back to their regular lives?
“Everything will be fine, my love,” Daniel said, breaking into her thoughts.
She looked at him, not entirely surprised he had an idea what she was thinking. They were coming to know each other’s thoughts pretty well, and he knew her fears better than anyone ever had. “I want it to be. After all that’s happened, I guess I’m feeling a little vulnerable.”
He reached over, brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m here.” His words, as they often did, soothed and reassured her.
They were both in new territory here, so at least if she was scared she had company. Sexy, supportive, loving company.
Maybe being vulnerable wasn’t too bad.
* * * * *
They arrived back in the city late in the afternoon, parked Lena’s car at her building then took a cab to the Crane and Fulton office. Most of the staff was getting ready to leave for the day, but Lena and Daniel gathered everyone into the conference room to present their ideas. As expected, they went over beautifully. Michelle was so excited she was dancing around the room and was ready to order champagne for everyone.
“I think we should wait until after the pitch deadline,” Lena said. “We’ve only got a few days to make these ideas look as polished and magazine ready as possible.”
“You know we’ve got this,” Michelle said.
Lena was ready to hope but quite ready to be as positive as her friend.
The next days were a flurry of activity and little to no sleep. With Lena and Michelle’s input, Daniel hired and worked with models on the photo shoot. Michelle arranged for the necessary studio space and helped Daniel with the set decoration necessary to create central ad images of the men looking with longing at the lovely women in their lives. When she saw the proofs at the end of the day, Lena was blown away. Even alone, the pictures would make buyers crazy for the product. But when Daniel added his art to them, then the real magic began. He put in long hours creating the fantasy images based on the faces and poses of the woman, which then framed the final image and showed the wild and passionate thoughts the lady inspired in her man.
In addition to helping Daniel, Lena wrote long and short copy ideas, worked with typefaces to create the right impact for the words so they complemented but didn’t distract from the visuals, and storyboarded short television commercials. At the end of each day, they spent more hours talking about what other layouts they needed and to be certain their work was fitting. The days were
long, but they flew by. Most nights they collapsed into bed only to wake a few hours later and start the process all over again.
And although she knew she was exhausted, Lena hadn’t felt this energized in years. When she looked in the mirror she saw someone happy and animated, a far cry from a few weeks ago when she hardly recognized her reflection.
* * * * *
On the day of the presentation, Lena, Michelle and Daniel went to the meeting knowing they brought their best work. Lena and Michelle made certain to wear Golden Cosmetics, but Lena thought if she glowed it was love and excitement that did it. Of course, that was what was at the heart of their campaign. Golden Cosmetics brought out a woman’s inner goddess, inner passion. Lena gave Daniel’s hand a squeeze as they walked into the conference room. He’d helped to bring it out in her.
Even knowing the executives had seen several other talented and well-established firms, Lena was confident that what they were offering was new and exciting. She’d been to enough of these meetings to know when the client was interested and from the way people were leaning forward in their seats and the questions they asked, she could tell they were hooked. Nothing was certain, but she had no doubt that they’d given their best and whatever happened, that mattered almost as much as anything.
Still, she didn’t sleep well as they waited to hear Golden’s final decision. She didn’t do anything well. Patience had never been one of her virtues. She jumped every time the phone rang and checked her messages constantly. She tried to concentrate on other accounts, but her mind wandered and sometimes shut down completely. They went to a movie one day and five minutes after they left she couldn’t remember what it was about. She was grateful for every night Daniel distracted her, made her laugh, held her, and made love to her. She missed having him at the office now that his job was done, but she didn’t think she could have enjoyed him much anyway.
Every day that passed without word made her lose a little more hope.
“No news is good news,” Daniel said. “You can’t know what they are thinking or doing.”
“We’d have heard bad news by now,” Michelle said.
They both tried to keep their spirits up, but Lena knew Michelle well and could see the cracks start in her friend’s optimism.
She was considering going home early on the Friday nearly two weeks after their presentation when Michelle called her.
“I’ve got Golden on hold. Get in here quickly.”
Lena kicked off her shoes and ran to Michelle’s office. She saw a few thumbs-up and hopeful looks from their other employees as they passed.
“Lena just arrived, Mr. Golden. We’re ready.”
It took all Lena’s strength not to react to the news until they hung up the phone, but the moment the receiver was in its cradle she looked at her best friend and smiled broadly before they both screamed at the top of their lungs. The account was theirs. Every minute of work, sweat and tears paid off. They had won the biggest job of their careers and the company was saved.
Michelle ran to the kitchen and brought out two bottles of champagne she’d kept hidden for the last week. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t lunch time yet. Cups and mugs were filled and their success was toasted. The offer was generous and this account alone was going to keep them going for years, to say nothing of the accounts it was going to attract for them.
Daniel arrived a half hour later and joined the celebration, picking Lena up, swinging her around and kissing her passionately in front of the entire staff. She couldn’t have cared less. He was a part of this achievement and she was thrilled to share it with him.
They ordered lunch in for everyone and when the food and drink were gone they closed the office for the rest of the day. Lena and Daniel spent the day walking around Boston, laughing and kissing, too happy to settle anywhere for long. Needing to indulge herself, she modeled several pairs of outrageously expensive shoes for Daniel before choosing a pair of nude open-toed concealed platform stilettos that made his eyes widen when she walked toward him.
It was a perfect day, the first she hoped, and finally believed, of many to come.
On Sunday, Lena woke in Daniel’s bed and stretched out to cover as much of the mattress as possible. If he were next to her, he’d tease her about not taking up much room at all. Breathing deeply, she smelled coffee brewing in the other room. Waking and having him take care of her was almost as lovely as falling asleep with him. And falling asleep in his arms was wonderful. She closed her eyes and heard his last words from the night before, I love you, Lena.
She was grateful for so many things in her life she could burst from the happiness. The contracts were being couriered over on Monday and once they were signed it would be official. Crane and Fulton was going to be in business for a long time to come. With Daniel’s help, she had done it. Her company was saved.
And she was completely in love.
Without their days at the camp together, she might never have gotten close to him or shared so much of herself. Part of her remained nervous, but no previous relationship ever felt this right, this intimate. She longed for him when circumstances kept them apart, and couldn’t get enough of him when they were together. And while she knew the intensity would fade, she was ready to enjoy whatever came next.
Resting back on the pillows, listening to Daniel in the kitchen, Lena gave a contented sigh. She loved waking in his bed with the sun coming down from the ceiling window. Spring in Boston didn’t always have good weather, but from what she could see, today promised to be a beautiful one. Maybe she would ask Daniel if she could leave a painting easel in the corner. The light in here was too wonderful to waste.
“Good morning,” Daniel said, walking into the bedroom wearing jeans and nothing else. Damn, she loved that look on him. “I brought you something.”
“Gimme gimme gimme,” she said, reaching out for the mug as he laughed. She took a gentle sip to avoid a burned tongue. “The first taste is always so good. Thank you.”
“You are very welcome.”
“Where’s yours?”
“Drank it already. See,” he said and kissed her, letting her taste the strong, dark coffee on his tongue.
“Now that’s a new way to get a caffeine buzz.”
“Think it works?”
“I think if it doesn’t, it won’t matter.”
As she continued to enjoy her morning fuel he kissed her jaw and neck, then as he worked his way down to her collarbone he said, “Let’s go out for brunch.”
“Sounds good, although if you keep doing what you’re doing, I’m going to say we stay in and make scrambled eggs.”
“If there wasn’t a great place I want to go to on Newbury Street, I’d be whisking those eggs.”
She smiled. Sunday brunch was her favorite meal of the week, especially to eat out. She wondered if it was warm enough for the restaurants to have tables outside. Newbury Street was great for people watching. They could have a leisurely meal then window shop. Maybe she’d splurge on another pair of stilettos since she knew her job was secure again.
She climbed out of bed and into the shower. Daniel joined her and claimed it would be quick, but once he started sucking on her nipples, they didn’t get out from under the water for a while, not until she enjoyed him thoroughly and allowed him to do the same. When he entered her from behind, the combined sensations of the hot water and the cool tile wall were electrifying.
She was glad she left a dress at his place. She always felt better on Newbury Street when she dressed nicely. As she finished her makeup, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She stared in the mirror at their combined reflection. They looked as happy as she felt. She wanted to keep this feeling forever—and she wanted to capture it for their next set of ads for Golden. She put down her brush, took his face in her hands and kissed him.
“What was that for?”
“Because I wanted to.”
“Best reason ever,” he said. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, just need to find my lipstick.”
“Don’t bother. I’m going to kiss it off later.”
“Good point,” she said. Makeup didn’t matter when she felt as though she glowed from the inside. Maybe “Glow like you’re in love” would be another campaign. She couldn’t remember the last time she was this joyful. Probably when she was a child and the world was filled with endless possibilities. It was that buzz, that promise, she was experiencing all over again. And as Michelle suggested, her creativity was overflowing as much as her heart.
The early-afternoon weather was as warm as she hoped, and they walked arm-in-arm over the bridge and into the heart of Copley Square, passing Trinity Church and the Boston Public Library on their way over to one of the ritziest streets in the city. It was nearly noon and the sidewalks were crowded with Bostonians cooped up for too long during the winter. She glanced in windows at the new summer fashions and found herself excited about the coming season. She was so dazzled by the day and her own emotions she didn’t notice they stopped walking.
“We’re here,” Daniel said.
She looked at the door and was confused by the writing. “I don’t understand. Why are we at the Wagner Gallery? They don’t serve brunch here.”
“They do, sort of, when there’s an event.”
“You can’t possibly have managed another show with all that’s been going on.”
“I can’t, but Alice can—and did. She’s discovered a brilliant new artist, with a little help from me, of course.”
He opened the door with a flourish and allowed her to walk in first. They stepped into the gallery and other than the bright light spilling in through the front wall of glass, the scene reminded her of the night they met. The crowd, the drinks being passed and the energy. However, the artist being highlighted was not Daniel. It was—her.
Chapter Eleven
Her mind told her it wasn’t possible, but she saw a different truth. The exhibit was called “Fortunate Accidents”, and Lena thought she might throw up. The sounds in the room disappeared as blood rushed in her ears and she took in the activity around her. To the left of the greeters table was a wall of information on Lena, their featured artist, including pictures from her childhood, a few of her standout projects from C&F, as well as a photograph of her working, which she barely remembered Daniel taking while they were away at the camp.
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