“No, no prize. I just….I finally worked my way up to a position where I wanted to be and then you came along and were ‘given’ everything. I had finally earned the respect I’ve been craving my whole life and you come in and are given it.”
“Respect you’ve been craving your whole life,” He repeated thoughtfully.
Embarrassed, I stood up to get away from this conversation. I said way too much, but Matt grabbed my arm and pulled me to his lap. He wrapped his strong arms around me.
“Is that why you seem so competitive at work?”
“I’m not competitive. I just…” I stopped not knowing what else to say. I was completely embarrassed that I had just opened up all my inner thoughts and feelings. My plan had been to spend my day chatting with single guys and here I was pouring out my guts to Matt, the guy who gets everything he wants in life.
Matt patted my leg as he pulled me in tighter. “I think you try so hard to act so authoritative. You try so hard to command attention. If you would just “be” like you are right now…”
“Be?” I interrupted him. Slightly defensive, yes, but also I wanted to know what he meant by that.
“You’re just being yourself right now with me. I’m enjoying being with you. I don’t feel like you’re trying to make me listen, trying to top me or something.”
“I don’t do that,” I insisted defensively. “I just want to get everyone’s attention. I want them to listen to me and my ideas.”
“I think you’re going about it the wrong way though,” Matt told me softly.
“What do you mean?” I looked down at my ring and started to fidget with it. This whole conversation made me terribly nervous and squeamish. If he felt this way, what did the rest of the office think of me? He put his hand on top of mine and gave my hand a small squeeze.
“You come across as bitchy instead of a helpful HR person. You’re so busy trying to make everyone listen to your policies and the handbook. They’re just people that want to be able to go to you for help with their issues.”
I bit my lip trying to absorb what he was telling me. “I didn’t think I was doing that. I just wanted everyone to…” I stopped knowing I was going to repeat what he just said. “I just worked so hard to get to where I am and I want to make a name for myself in the HR community with my peers.” I shrugged knowing that wasn’t the point of my career. “You’re right, I’ve kind of lost focus, I guess.” I bit my lip and then looked around before settling on his warm blue eyes. “Is that why no one lets me call them by their first name?”
Matt smiled, raising his eyebrows he asked, “Did you ask them?”
“Well, no, but you were there for a day and had everyone by their first name. I was there for two months and no one told me to call them that.”
“I didn’t ask, Vanessa. I just went ahead. They told me their full name and I just started calling them by that.”
“But that just seems disrespectful,” I protested.
“We work in the office together. You should think of it that way — that you work with the person, not the name.”
“I’m sure Mr. Buchanan wouldn’t think that way. Why do you get to call him Perry?”
“What do you mean?”
“You call him Perry. He’s never once told me to call him that.”
“Why would you wait? Call him that and see what happens. If he tells you not to call him that, then you know. Until then, you call him that.”
“It just seems disrespectful.”
“I called him Mr. Buchanan for a long time, but after we established a rapport, I started calling him Perry,” he nudged me with his shoulder. “It was on a good sales day. He never corrected me and I kept going. You take a chance and see what happens, Vanessa.”
“I play by the rules. You don’t and seem to get away with everything.”
“And where has that gotten you?”
I thought for a moment before answering him slowly, “Nowhere.” I took a deep breath as he pulled me tighter and I wrapped my arms around his neck. Safe. Secure. I melted into his arms feeling as if I were always meant to be there. Comfortable. I put my head down and nuzzled into the crook of his neck, hugging him tightly. I felt his warm lips on my cheek as he gave me a light kiss.
That “friends” thing wasn’t supposed to include kissing, was it? I’m sure I also wasn’t supposed to feel this warm feeling I was having with Matt right now.
His lips grazed my chin, my heart picked up and this overwhelming urge to kiss him overcame me. There was no thinking anymore, it was just a natural pull between us as our lips touched ever so softly. His mouth opened at the same time as mine and in that very moment there was that same “breath” that we shared; that essence that I claimed, our souls meeting. We both stared into each other’s eyes and in that very second that we shared that breath, nothing else mattered. Policies forgotten, friendship status set aside, jealousy was nowhere in sight. It was just our two souls feeling that moment right before our lips touched.
The most incredible kiss two people could ever possibly share happened right then between Matt and myself. It was soft, warm, caring and full of deep empathy for each other. Our tongues glided together in the most perfect and passionate kiss I’ve ever experienced. Our romantic rain kiss last Sunday was fantastic. This…sharing of our souls…was nothing short of…pure bliss.
My eyes welled up with faint tears, my heart throbbed with yearning for this kiss to never end.
Ringing in the distance startled us both out of that moment. We both pulled back slowly and stared into each other’s eyes, mesmerized by what just transpired between us. The look in his eyes confirmed that he felt the same exact way that I just did. Right now, there was no doubt in my mind that this thing between us might be more than friends. At least in my mind, I felt that way.
Maybe I was wrong as I watched him pull his gaze away from mine to glance at my phone on the table. He picked it up and grimaced as he looked at the caller. I slowly took my phone from his hand and looked down. Declan from last night’s speed dating event was calling me. I gave Matt a faint smile and pressed the top button, making the call forward to voice mail. I placed the phone back onto my table and I turned to try to continue what we just shared.
He stopped my meek advance by saying, “One of your many admirers.” He patted my thigh as he pulled me off his lap and I stood, unsure of what was happening to our “moment.” I could definitely say the same to him as I recalled Ava entering his apartment last night. And with that, jealousy swept over me and practically seeped into my mind. I had resolved earlier not to taunt him any further and yet, I had allowed this to happen just now.
We stared at each other for what seemed like eternity, neither of us making a move to continue that kiss or to walk away, both of us deciding on what to do.
His phone rang out this time. It seemed that there were other people that wanted our attention more than we wanted to give that attention to each other. I broke our stare first by asking, “Are you going to get that?” as I glanced down at his pocket where the ring was coming from.
He gave a quick nod and pulled his phone out, rolling his eyes as he noted who was calling him. He didn’t mention who it was, so I think it was safe to assume it was one of his many admirers. Only unlike me sending the call to voice mail, Matt answered his call.
“Hey,”…“Yeah, that sounds good,”…“Okay, I’ll head over there now,”…“K.” He hung up his phone and gestured his thumb toward the door. “I…uhh. I need to head out for a little while,” he told me. I nodded and gave a small reassuring smile as I realized I was just a friend and that kiss was probably just that — a fantastic kiss.
Wishing for romance with Matt must have come from writing it down in my notebook. Watching Matt turn and leave my apartment without a glance back made sure that wish was gone. Matt just solidified what I already knew.
OVER THE LAST HOUR, I’d had ten chat conversations going on. I couldn’t get comfortable in the shorts that I put
on earlier and my bra was annoying me too. I wasn’t going out today now that I have so many new friends to chat with, so I might as well get comfortable, right?
Removing my bra was the first thing to happen as I ran into my room. I grabbed my black stretch yoga pants that had a blue fold over at the waist and a grey long sleeve shirt that hung off my shoulder no matter how many times I’d try to right it to center it. I always felt sexy wearing it, but at the same time it felt so comfy on my lazy days. It was the perfect attire for chatting online with single men.
I had to admit, I became addicted to searching profiles and chatting with certain guys. It was fun and hiding behind my laptop, I felt a little braver. It was a lot easier to “chat” with someone online than it was to meet in person and the things I said were a little more daring, too.
I grabbed my laptop from the table and flopped onto the couch. I ate my lunch while chatting with some guy who told me how he loves to rock climb. I was intrigued that it was a Saturday and instead of climbing mountains he was online with me instead. His conversation changed to a sexual nature so I quickly figured out he probably wasn’t a rock climber, but wanted to bring me to higher peaks, as he told me, in a more vulgar type of way.
I had to laugh at how much fun this actually was. I settled down into the couch and turned on the TV for some background noise.
As I was reviewing a profile for a guy that wanted to chat with me, my phone chimed. Annoyed that I had to vacate my perfect place on the couch, I jumped up to grab my phone from the table. Oddly enough, my annoyance was quickly replaced by a flutter in my heart at who sent me a text. I ran back to the couch and flopped back down.
Matt: Whatcha up to?
Me: Working. Just reviewing an article. I lied and smiled to myself wondering what he would think if he knew how I was really spending my afternoon.
Matt: I’ve got a couple things I need to work on too. Mind if I come over and hang out?
He had only been gone a couple hours or so since our conversation earlier. He must have had a quick romp with whoever called him. Considering he’s not the romantic type, as he’s told me, he must have left right after they did their thing.
I stared at my laptop wondering what Matt would think if he saw that I was actually chatting online. What did it matter considering how he left me this morning to go to whatever woman called him? I was going to continue to chat while he was here. Might make for some interesting conversation, if anything, right?
Me: Nope. Come on over.
Moments later there was a small knock on my door. I set aside my laptop on the couch and jumped up to answer. Poor Matt was going to catch me looking like I usually do on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I answered the door, realizing way too late that I took my bra off. I hoped he wouldn’t notice.
I opened the door and debated excusing myself to run to my room and throw a bra on. Matt stood there in a t-shirt and jeans and his eyes perused my body quickly. I caught that glimmer of a smile in his eyes as he quickly tried to return his gaze to my eyes. He held his laptop on his hands like a book cradled to his side. I stepped aside to let him in, giving him plenty of room. Despite that, he still managed to brush his arm against my bare chest. I guess he did notice. I smiled to myself as I closed the door and tried to remind myself that we resolved to leave things as a friendship. Or at least I had.
Unfortunately this friendship constantly left me wanting more…a friends with benefits type of arrangement that I knew I couldn’t have.
Darn no dating policy.
Despite the warning lights going off in my head to throw a bra on, I realized putting one on wasn’t going to stop my desires for having Matt again. I might as well gather some fantasies to share with B.O.B later on.
I walked over to the couch where Matt already seated himself comfortably. He took one corner and hiked up one leg, stretching his other one along the back of the couch, then opened his laptop.
Feeling a little excited to have Matt on the opposite side of the couch, I leaned back on the arm rest. I scooched down, crossed my legs and rested my laptop on my legs. Neither of us said anything. I muted my laptop to stop all the “chimes” I was receiving and went back to chatting with other guys while a certain single amazingly good looking guy sat on the opposite side of the couch.
Chatting with so many different men and Matt’s scent filling my apartment, reminding me of our night together, put my libido in full alert. To say I was fully charged would be an understatement, especially with what some of the guys I was chatting with said they’d do to me. I needed to either kick Matt out of my apartment soon so I could have a “date” with B.O.B. or I would have to run to the bathroom like a sex-starved maniac. I’m sure that’s what Charles would think I was if he ever caught me using it.
As I debated this “dilemma,” a pop up on my Yahoo messenger diverted my attention from my “reading.” The message was from Matt and I tried to keep my eyes on my laptop and not look up at him. I pulled my laptop slightly higher to make sure he wouldn’t see the smile on my face.
Matt: Reading anything interesting?
Me: How to inspire employees.
Matt: Sounds boring…snore.
Me: It’s not too bad.
Matt: Why don’t we watch a movie instead?
Me: Because I need to research this. I wondered what he would say if he saw what I was really doing.
Matt: You can’t work on that tomorrow?
Me: I’m working on it right now. You decided to come over.
Matt: Would you rather I leave?
Me: No, you’re nice company. You make a nice fixture on my couch. It’s too bad Aubrey’s not here.
Matt: Why is that?
Me: She wanted you as a permanent fixture in our living room when she first met you.
Matt: Oh yeah?
I looked up from my laptop to show him my smile.
“Permanent fixture?”
I nodded. “Yeah, she wanted you to sit there and look pretty.”
“Funny, I thought the same thing about you on my couch.” I rolled my eyes, still smiling and looked back down to the chat I was having. This time, the guy was discussing his interest in photography, only it didn’t seem like he enjoyed taking photos of landscapes.
I flipped back to my messenger, waiting for the next text from Matt. My heart beating faster as I wondered what he would say or type next.
Matt: Do you have any idea how sexy you look in that outfit?
Gulp. Oh shit. This is it. Do I play? I’m so wound up right now from all this “chatting” and here I have this amazing man who I know is fantastic in bed. Fuck the policy, my libido said, as if it could really talk. I decided to play.
Me: Tell me. I typed out so slowly and hit enter before I could delete it. I stared at the screen, my heart throbbing now, not to mention how I was throbbing down there. I waited, staring at the screen in anticipation. Before I knew it, my laptop was being removed from my lap and Matt gingerly laid it on the coffee table. He positioned his knee between my legs and leaned over me. He placed his hand on the arm rest right beside my neck and gave me that sexy fucking half smile.
Oh God. I’m done for.
All I could do was gaze at him. I wanted this just as much as he did and I didn’t want to think about anything that would happen at the office.
His head bent down, as if in slow motion that I had absolutely no desire to stop. His lips softly touched mine, his tongue glided into my mouth, searching for mine. I moaned into his mouth as my hand snaked around his neck pulling him closer, wanting more.
Teasing him for a week and then trying to relieve myself each and every night did nothing for the appetite I had for Matt. For him only. I wrapped my other arm around his muscular body and he lowered himself onto me. His other hand slowly went under my shirt, slowly skimming my skin. He was touching the side of my breast with the slightest feather touch. It was his turn to moan into my mouth, which caused me to pull him even closer as I slid down further into the couch.
I lifted my leg to the side allowing him to press his groin right against me. Just from feeling that slight pressure a small mewl escaped my throat, surprising me, as my breathing increased and our mouths pressed harder against each other.
It was building. While we were slow just a second ago, now we were at full speed. Mouths pressing harsh and fast against each other, hands clawing at each other’s clothes with barely enough time to take a breath. Both our shirts were off within seconds, hands immediately back to where they were just a second ago. I groped his hard length from outside his jeans as he moaned into my mouth. My hand that was once pulling his neck harder to me, immediately reached down to start unbuttoning his jeans, unzipping him as quick as I could and reaching in to feel his soft, velvety smooth shaft. No boxers or briefs. I gasped, turned on even more that he had nothing under his jeans the whole time.
I cupped his balls, while my other hand glided up and down his shaft. With barely open eyes we peered at each other, lusting, wanting, needing each other. He pulled away with one leg on the floor balancing him and his other was still fixed between my legs. He grabbed the waistband of my yoga pants and pulled them down quickly. I lifted my hips slightly, needing them to be off just as much as I could tell he wanted them off me. His eyes flashed to mine with an intense brightness as he found out my little secret too. It seems we both enjoy going without that extra fabric down there. My head tilted towards the ceiling in hopes of what he might do.
My thoughts were answered as I felt the wet slick of his tongue on my clit. More teasing, more taunting. I pulled my top up so I could feel my nipples and how hard they were as I cupped my own breast. His tongue continued to massage me, dip into me, then back up to my clit. I writhed with pleasure as he gently slipped two fingers into me. Swirling, searching for that perfect…“Ohhh, Oh God, yes Matt, please more,” I moaned as he continued to give me what I wanted. I couldn’t catch my breath and he continued with his tongue, his fingers feeling that amazing spot as I closed my eyes in pure ecstasy and exploded. “Ohhh,” I cried out as I came and he moaned into me. I slowly came down from that euphoric feeling as he gave me soft kisses along the inside of my thighs. I briefly opened my eyes and glanced down. Matt’s sexy smile greeted me as he sat back and rolled a condom onto his hard shaft.
Alluring Promises Box Set (Books 1-3) Page 65