by Opal Carew
She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No.”
Why was she panicking? She wanted to be with him. Could barely keep herself from tearing his clothes off right now.
“You’ve refused going back to my place twice. What is it you want, Jessica?” His eyes glittered. “It seems you’re having trouble making up your mind.”
“It’s just so complicated. I just got out of a romantic relationship and I’m not ready for something like that again. But I’d be lying if I told you that I didn’t find you … extremely distracting. So if we’re going to do this, I want it to be a physical relationship only.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I see. So there will be no romantic entanglements, no relationship demands.”
She nodded. “But I don’t want our personal involvement to get in the way of business. And I would prefer that no one know about it.”
He slid his arms around her again and drew her close. “All right. I agree with those conditions.”
As his lips captured hers, her heart thundered in her chest.
“Since you insist we don’t let our affair interfere with work, we’ll have to go to my 10:30 meeting.”
“Oh.” She drew in a deep breath. Her body was aching for him, and she longed for him to take control of her. To order her to please him.
Clearly, however, that would have to wait. They would have to leave in fifteen minutes.
“I’ll go gather my things.”
But when she attempted to slip from his arms, he merely tightened his hold.
“I didn’t say you could go yet.”
That commanding tone of his sent her nerve endings fluttering.
“But you said—”
“I said there was little time. So you’d better be quick.”
Her eyes widened.
“I want you to fuck me. Right now.” He nuzzled her ear, his swollen shaft pressing against her belly. “Right here in the office. The walls are soundproof so no one will hear when I make you scream.”
At her hesitation, he said, “It’s not a request.” He captured her mouth in a commanding, passionate kiss. His tongue swept inside and her knees went weak. “Fuck me,” he said softly against her lips.
His commanding tone dug deep inside her and she couldn’t control herself.
“Yes, sir,” she said in a shaky voice, her hands trembling with the need to wrap themselves around his shaft.
She unzipped his pants, and then reached inside. Oh, God, he was hard as rock. She drew him out of the confines of the fabric and gazed down at the big, plum-shape head, longing to take it in her mouth. She started to lean down but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “That’s not the part of you I want to fuck. Spread your legs for me.”
She pulled up her skirt and opened her legs.
His fingers glided through her long hair. “Very good,” he murmured as his hand slid inside her pantyhose, tugged them to her knees and then tugged the crotch of her panties to one side. He pressed his hard cockhead to her damp folds, and slowly slid into her slick core.
She almost gasped as his massive cock glided inside her. Filling her so deeply. Once he was fully immersed, he grasped her hips and held her tight against him, turning her until she pressed back against the desk. His lips nuzzled her temple.
Oh, God, she couldn’t believe she was standing in his executive office, pinned between him and his desk as his cock impaled her. If anyone walked in …
But they wouldn’t. No one would walk into Dane Ranier’s office without his permission.
Still, if someone knocked and Dane delayed before he answered—
“Don’t think.” His breath brushed across her ear. “Just fuck me.”
His hands on her hips guided her back, then forward again. His considerable girth stretched and caressed her passage as they moved.
He tucked his hands under her ass, pulling her tighter against him. His long cock pushed even deeper inside her as he lifted her from her feet. She pulled one leg out of the pantyhose and wrapped her legs around him as he set her on the desk. He drew back, then drove forward with a powerful thrust, filling her with every considerable inch of his cock.
“Oh, God,” she whimpered. Pleasure swelled within her as he pumped into her body. Her erratic breathing sounded like whimpers. She nuzzled his clean-shaven neck, loving the brisk smell of his cologne.
He pressed his hand to her lower back and thrust deep. She sucked in air as her whole body vibrated with need. He drove deep again and she clung to his shoulders, feeling the joyful sensations dance through her.
Just when she was about to soar over the edge, he stopped his movements.
“Please don’t stop,” she whimpered.
“Do you want me to keep fucking you? After you’ve done so much to tease and torment me since you got here. I think I should make you suffer.”
She couldn’t imagine him stopping. She was so close. She wanted him so badly. She nearly cried when she felt him withdraw from her completely.
“Yes, please, sir. Keep fucking me.”
An amused smile spread across his face, and he drew his hips back and thrust hard. Her insides melted. Tingles danced across her skin.
“I’ll reserve your punishment for another time,” he said, then spiraled his shaft inside her, driving her pleasure to a new level. “You’re lucky your sweet little pussy feels so good, otherwise I’d have no problem leaving you empty and aching.”
He continued to drive into her. He spiraled again and she moaned as pleasure rippled through her.
He thrust faster. Deeper.
“Oh, fuck,” he ground out.
She felt liquid heat erupt inside her. She gasped, then plummeted over the edge right along with him. He continued to fill her—in and out—as she rode the wave, her moans filling the office.
Slowly, the orgasm waned and she felt herself drifting back to earth. Her head rested against the lapel of his jacket, his heartbeat thumping against her ear. As her heart rate slowly returned to normal, she became conscious of the complete inappropriateness of the situation. Here she was, sitting on his desk, her skirt pulled up, his big cock deep inside her.
Twitching. Oh, God, he was getting hard again.
“Well, if that’s what I have to look forward to in the office,” he said, “I may decide never to go home.”
* * *
Jessica sat in the limo beside Dane as they traveled to his meeting with Dan Johansson, the senior partner of an architecture firm he was thinking of hiring to design a new manufacturing facility on the outskirts of the city. As they drove, she reviewed the notes she’d taken about the questions he wanted to ensure were answered during the meeting.
When they arrived, she spent her time during the meeting jotting down notes and providing Dane with information when he requested it. But mainly, she kept her mind firmly off what had happened in his office this morning.
She didn’t regret it. Not one bit. And even though a part of her wanted to resist his sexual dominance, she enjoyed it more than she could have ever imagined. So now she just needed to figure out how to get used to their new relationship.
Dane stood and shook Mr. Johansson’s hand. “Thank you. My assistant will get back to you if I have any further questions.”
Jessica stood up and followed him from the office back to the limo, then settled in beside him. The driver pulled into traffic.
“That went well. Can you have that information put together for our Planning Department this afternoon?”
“Yes, sir.”
He smiled. “You know, it drives me crazy when you call me sir.”
Her gaze darted to him. “Should I stop?”
“Not at all. I love it.”
She smiled. “So I shouldn’t start calling you Dane?”
“No. Definitely sir. Or Mr. Ranier.”
“Even when we’re…”—her cheeks heated—“having sex?”
“Especially when we’re having sex.”
This was definitely going
to take some getting used to. Every time she called him sir in the office, there would be a thrill of excitement pulsing through her.
Going to the office was definitely going to be a whole new experience from now on.
* * *
When Jessica returned to her office, Melanie had already left for lunch, since the meeting outside the office had gone long. Dane had a lunch appointment, but she was relieved not to have the choice of eating lunch with him. Their relationship was about work and sex. Nothing more.
She grabbed a sandwich at a deli nearby and ate at her desk. She was actually glad not to sit with Melanie today. Her new secret would probably be written all over her face. It wouldn’t be so awkward on the trip home, because they didn’t get into deep discussions on the bus. They usually talked about non–work-related topics like weekend plans, the new guy Melanie was seeing, or affordable fashion boutiques that Jessica should check out.
When they got home, Melanie found that her latest online nail polish order had arrived and she went off to ooh and aah over them, then to try a new ombre manicure she’d been talking about doing. Jessica always liked all the interesting colors and textured polishes Melanie found, and the creative manicures she tried. She knew Melanie would come and show her the results later in the evening. But for now, she was relieved to be left to her own devices.
After she changed into her jeans and walked back into the living room, she noticed the light blinking on the answering machine and pushed the button to listen to the message.
“Jessica, sweetie? It’s Mom.” Jessica smiled. Mom always felt she had to identify herself. “I guess you’re not home yet. Can you call me right away? Well, not right away, I mean, it’s not an emergency or anything, just as soon as you can.”
Jessica dialed the phone and her mother picked up.
“Hi, Mom. I got your message.”
“Oh, sweetie, hi. It’s so nice to hear your voice. We miss you, you know.”
Jessica smiled. “I know, Mom. I miss you and Dad, too.”
They chatted for a few minutes about her dad and how work was going, and about Mom’s latest quilting project. But something in her mother’s tone seemed off.
“Is something wrong, Mom? You seem distracted. Are you and Dad okay?”
“Oh, no, sweetie. We’re fine. I just know you’re doing so well at your new job, and you sound so happy. I don’t want to upset you.”
She sat forward in her chair. “Well it’s too late. Now you’ve really got me worried. Is it a health concern?”
“Oh, no, nothing like that. Sweetie, I know how hurt you were when Storm walked out on you to go on tour. I know you were in love with him and it broke your heart. But he came to see me and … he told me he wants to talk to you.” Her mother hesitated. “Jess, I think he’s still in love with you. He wants to find you.”
“Oh, Mom, you didn’t give him my number, did you?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that, but…”
Jessica gritted her teeth at her mother’s hesitation.
“Unfortunately, your dad did.”
Jessica’s stomach clenched.
“And, honey, I’m pretty sure Storm’s coming to find you.”
Perfect Storm
Jessica gripped the phone tightly, her other hand balling into a fist.
Damn it! She had just gotten over Storm, or at least gotten to a point where she didn’t ache inside every time she thought about him. And a big part of that was because Dane was such a major distraction.
Her hand slipped into her jeans pocket and she stroked the flat stone Dane had given her.
But Dane was more than just a distraction. When he hadn’t even known her, he’d helped her out, given her advice and confidence. He’d given her a job.
“Mom, did Dad give him my address, too? Or tell him where I work?”
“No, not your address, but where you work? Um, I’m not sure.”
“Oh, Mom.” Jessica put her face in her palm. “Why would he do that?”
“Sweetie, you know he really likes Storm, and he’d love to have him as a son-in-law. I’m sure he thought that you would be happy to see him. He just wants you to be happy. And so do I.”
“I know, Mom.”
“You know, I was just wondering. Would it be such a bad thing if he found you?”
Her mother had always liked Storm. Well, of course she did. Mom wanted her to be happy, and she’d never been happier than during her time with Storm.
When she still thought he loved her.
Did he still love her? Even in spite of all he’d done, her heart leapt at the thought.
But all Mom had said was that she thought Storm still loved her. That could so easily be wishful thinking on her part. When Storm had walked out on Jessica, she knew that her mother had been in almost as much pain as she had been. Because that’s how mothers were with their kids. They wanted to protect them and make things right. Her mother would have given anything to make things right again so Jessica would be happy.
So Mom was probably only seeing what she wanted to see. Storm likely didn’t want to come here to find her at all. Probably the only reason Storm wanted to talk to her was because he had left something behind that he wanted back. For instance, she remembered finding a copy of one of the demo CDs he’d made of him playing with the band. She remembered when she’d noticed the plain white CD, labeled with a black Sharpie, sitting on her dresser. It included the song he’d written for her. She’d played it over and over again, her only tangible link to him and the love they’d shared. Remembering the way he’d played it for her in the nude. They’d both been lying entwined on his bed after making love when he’d stood up, retrieved his guitar and begun playing a song so heartbreakingly tender it had brought tears to her eyes. But as the reality hit her that he really had walked away from her, and their love, she’d tucked it away in a drawer, like any dream that was destined never to come true.
He probably only wanted to retrieve that CD.
“I really don’t want to see him. I have a new life here.”
“I know, but … are you sure? Because if he wants you back, then maybe you could work things out.”
“Even if he does want me back, which I doubt, I don’t want him back.”
“But if you still love him…”
“I’ll get over it. Mom, please don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
Mom sighed. “I know that, sweetie. And you know I’d do anything in the world to make things better for you. I’m really sorry about this.”
Jessica smiled. “It’ll be okay, Mom. I know Dad’s heart was in the right place.” She held the phone with both hands, wishing Mom was here right now so she could give her a big hug. “I love you. And I miss you.”
“Me, too, sweetie.”
A few minutes after she hung up the phone, Melanie walked into the living room.
“Was that your Mom on the phone?”
Jessica nodded.
“Hey, is everything okay?” The concern in Melanie’s voice jarred Jessica from her thoughts.
She shrugged. “Mom said that my ex is back in Bakersfield and he asked her for my number.”
Melanie’s eyebrows arched. “And…?”
Jessica had told her about Storm and how much she’d loved him. How he’d left her and how difficult it had been to get over him. How difficult it still was.
“My father gave it to him.”
Melanie’s eyebrows arched. “Did he give him your address, too?”
“No, thankfully, but now I’ll be on pins and needles wondering if and when he’ll call.” She hugged her knees and gazed at Melanie. “I love my father but sometimes he just doesn’t get it.”
Melanie nodded, a thoughtful look on her face. “Did he give you our home number or your cell?”
“I’m not sure. Probably my cell.”
Melanie smiled. “Okay, if it’s our home number, we can just screen the calls. For your cell, here’s what we’re going to d
o. First we’ll add a blocking app to your phone for any calls or texts he sends you that shoots unknown numbers straight to voicemail. Then we’re going to forget he even exists. You know I got my new nail polish, right? How about I do your nails with this great new color I think you’ll love, add a bit of glitz, then we’ll hit the town?”
At her pursed lips, Melanie held up a bottle of rich burgundy nail polish in one hand and the real gold leaf flake topcoat she had been raving about for weeks in the other, and then tilted them back and forth.
“Come on. You know you want to.”
Jessica grinned. She did love the color of polish Melanie had picked out, and she would love to see what those delicate gold flakes looked like over the top of it.
She laughed. “Okay. It’s a deal.”
Ten minutes later, Melanie had finished applying the burgundy polish to Jessica’s nails, and she sat on the couch sipping a glass of wine while waiting for them to dry.
“You know, I think what would help you right now would be to find a hot guy and get laid.”
Jessica couldn’t help laughing. “I think you’re absolutely right.”
She just wouldn’t tell her friend that she’d already found the hot guy, but she’d have to wait until Monday—at the office—to get laid. Again.
* * *
Midmorning on Monday, Jessica sat by Melanie’s desk with a notebook on her lap as she asked questions about the various subsidiaries under Ranier Industries’ control.
The elevator doors opened and Dane stepped out. At once, awareness rippled through Jessica, but she continued to write down the most recent answer Melanie had provided.
“Good morning, Melanie. Jessica. I hope you had a nice weekend.”
“Very nice, thank you, Mr. Ranier,” Melanie answered as he walked by her desk, only a foot from Jessica.
His gaze fell on Jessica and heat washed through her.
“Yes, very nice,” she said.
Usually he threw out this kind of small talk as he continued on to his office, so there was only time for a quick response before he was gone, but Melanie jumped in.