by Krista Lakes
He pushed back on my shoulders, gently lowering me to the floor. I lay, bare chested with my hair spilling around my head as he knelt before me. With careful fingers, he undid my pants and I raised my hips to help him pull them off.
I tried not to blush as I lay on the blanket wearing only my pink cotton panties. They weren’t supposed to be sexy, just comfortable.
He grinned and ran his fingers over the fabric, making fire radiate out from his touch. I needed so much more than just a gentle caress.
“You have too many clothes on,” I whispered, finding it unfair that he still had on his shirt and pants while I had nothing.
He grinned and finished unbuttoning his shirt. He tossed it to the side with my clothing and then peeled off his undershirt. My breath caught in my throat as I looked at his chest and abs. He was just as perfect as I remembered with strong lick-able lines.
I sat up, reaching for his belt and pants. He stood to make it easier for me to get at the buttons and tug then tug his pants to the floor. I sat at eye level with his boxers that could barely contain him. I whimpered with desire as I reached for the waist band of his underwear.
Slowly, I pulled down, revealing all of him to me. The man was made to be naked. My fingers traced the lines of his body while the heat and need inside of me grew. I looked up to see him watching me, his eyes dark with desire.
I kissed the tip of his impressive erection and he shivered.
“In my pants pocket,” he gasped, pointing to the discarded clothing pile. “There’s a condom.”
I was glad one of us was thinking ahead.
“How long have you had this?” I asked, giving him a wink as I searched his pockets. It didn’t take me long to find the small square and open it.
“Just since I saw you last,” he gasped as I gripped him and rolled on the condom. “I didn’t want to get stopped again.”
I chuckled softly as I made sure I had done my job well. He took reached down and pulled me to standing. Once on my feet, he kissed me so fiercely that my lips hurt. I wanted all of him.
I shimmied out of my panties, kicking them to the side. The air was cool on my bare skin as he traced a slow line down my back, across my ass, and then gripped my thigh, pulling it to him. He tucked his hand beneath my knee.
I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders as he found my entrance. Our eyes met in the light of the flashlight and I smiled at him as he pressed into me.
The smile faded into a moan of pleasure as he filled me completely. I wrapped my leg around him, my fingernails digging into his back as I tried to take every inch and then some.
He thrust deeper, and I had to bite his shoulder to contain the cry of pleasure.
He was powerful and primal as he worked his way into me, filling me to the brim with pleasure. His hard length pounded deeper, questing for my center so that I could explode with him. His tongue found mine, claiming me as his own.
He dropped my leg and stepped back. The loss of him was enough to make me whimper. He sat down on the blanket and motioned for me to get on top of him there.
I straddled him again, only this time there were no clothes in the way. There was nothing to hold us back this time. Slowly, so slowly it ate at my soul, I slid down onto him. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he groaned as I began to undulate.
His hard length filled me to the brim while his hands gripped my hips. I lost myself to his touch, reveling in the sensation of being with him. He was powerful and primal, claiming me with every thrust and every movement.
I was his.
I started to shudder, the pleasure becoming too much to bear. His hips moved faster, my hands on his chest to steady myself. His skin was sticky under my palms, keeping me with him.
With a groan he sat up and wrapped his arms around my, losing himself to the pleasure I caused him. He shuddered into my arms, his head tucked into the curve of my shoulder as he gasped my name.
“Aria.”
My name.
The sound of my name on his lips, combined with the low, very male sound as he came was enough to send me flying into oblivion with him.
His broad shoulders heaved with each breath. My palms splayed out on the smooth skin of his back, feeling his heart beat in time with mine.
The sounds of rain and thunder and our breathing were all I could hear. All I could see was him.
I sighed with contentment, keeping him with me for as long as possible.
Slowly he lifted his head, his eyes bright. He touched my cheek and stroked my hair back. He looked me over, leaning back slightly.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
I grinned, feeling beautiful for him in this moment. He kissed me again, my whole body humming from pleasure. I hadn’t felt this good in a very long time.
Slowly, we untangled from one another. I shivered now that I didn’t have his direct body heat. He reached for my shirt, handing it to me with a smile. Together we dressed, but I wasn’t ready to say goodnight.
He leaned against the wall, his breath still ragged and eyes bright. I snuggled into his shoulder, his arm wrapped around me as we sat and watched the rain hit the window.
At some point, I dozed off. I was just so comfortable wrapped up in his safe arms that I drifted off.
“Aria, wake up,” he said gently. “It’s time to go home.”
I groaned and shook my head, trying to tuck my face into his shoulder. It was too bright now.
Which meant the power was back on.
“I’m going to take you home,” he said softly.
I got to my feet like a newborn baby deer. It was hard to stay upright. He picked up our picnic things and put his arm around my shoulder to take me downstairs. I followed him like a puppy, doing my best to keep my eyes closed against the glare of the overhead lights.
“Here,” he said, guiding me out to the curb. A car sat waiting. It was the same one from the night of the game. I slid inside. It was only a moment before he was beside me, his leg pressed against mine and his arm around me. I closed my eyes and fell back asleep on his shoulder for the short ride home.
I didn’t remember waking up to go up to my apartment, yet somehow I found myself in bed. My shoes were off and I wore just my underthings under the sheets.
“Shh,” he whispered, leaning over and kissing my forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
“Stay with me,” I said, reaching for him.
“I can’t,” he replied, the anguish clear on his face. I pouted, wanting more of him. “Just for a moment.”
He lay down on the bed next to me, his warmth infusing the bed with instant good dreams. Before I knew it, I was back asleep.
I didn’t hear him get up or lock the door, but when I woke up in the morning, he was gone.
Chapter 13
“How was your weekend?” Jaqui asked, poking her head in my office early Monday morning. “Any more dates with your handsome suitor?”
I grinned. “I had a wonderful night with him Friday,” I told her, thinking of what we had done in this very room and grinning. “But then he had to work all weekend, so I didn’t get to see him much.”
But, we did get to chat through text messages and phone calls. Those were still pretty amazing ways to get to hear from him.
“That’s too bad,” Jaqui replied. “He’s easy on the eyes. I still haven’t figured out where I know him from, though. When do you see him again?”
“I get to see him Tuesday. We have a fun date planned. I can’t wait. He’s going to work on my cooking skills.”
“He is a brave man to put you in the kitchen.” She grinned as she leaned against the door frame.
“Yeah, someone has to teach me eventually, right?” I said with a chuckle. “Hopefully I don’t burn down the place. Or poison him. At least the odds are good I’ll only do one or the other.”
“You just light up when you talk about him,” Jaqui remarked. She shook her head and smiled. “You are totally in love with him.”
> “Maybe.” I shrugged, trying to play it off, but I couldn’t help but think of how I lit up when he touched me. The way he made me feel when he looked at me with those blue eyes. The way my heart sped up when he called me and the way we talked until three in the morning on the phone.
“And there’s that in-love smile.” Jaqui pointed to the smile currently filling my face without me realizing. “You’ve got it bad.”
“Maybe a little,” I admitted. Jaqui just laughed and pushed herself off the door frame.
“Remember, if he has a friend...” Jaqui shrugged and waved as she left my office.
I smiled as I got back to work. I was almost done with the research for Anastasia. I only had a few more things to add. It wasn’t my best work, but then I didn’t exactly have enough time to do my best. I had put everything I had into it, though.
Just because I wasn’t getting the credit didn’t mean I wasn’t going to do a good job.
I put another set of files into the scanner and watched as they uploaded. It was one that Audrey would most likely want. Guilt washed through me. I didn’t have any files for her. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
My father was going to lose his reputation and it was my fault. I had to do something. I was running out of time.
I took out my phone, checked to make sure no one was walking down the hallway and snapped a picture of the file. It felt wrong. It felt like I was betraying everything I stood for. Guilt made my stomach twist and all the happy feelings I had dissolved like tissue paper in rain.
“It’s for Dad,” I told myself, putting my phone away. I wanted to delete it.
I did a another few boxes before my stomach began to rumble. I needed to eat something.
I stood up and stretched, purposefully not looking at my phone. I didn’t want to think about what I had on there.
Jaqui knocked at my door, making me jump. I yelled and put my phone in my pocket, shame heating my face. I knew she had no way of knowing what was on my phone, but that didn’t make the dirty feeling of betraying her go away.
“Sorry,” Jaqui said. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay. I was just in my head.” I did my best to smile. “What can I do for you?”
“The coffee machine broke. I was going to run over to the shop and grab some. Want to come?”
“And escape from the boxes for a little bit? Yes, please!” I grabbed my jacket and purse. “Plus, I can grab breakfast.”
“You mean Henry isn’t bringing you that too?” she teased as we headed down the stairs.
“Ha ha,” I replied, rolling my eyes. Jaqui chuckled.
We both waved to Gus as we walked out. Outside, the sun was shining with hardly a cloud in sight. After the rain of the other day, it was a welcome change. I took a deep breath of fresh, cool air and we started to walk.
“I have orders for Gus, Bethany, Janet, and Bob,” Jaqui said, pulling out a small piece of paper.
“Oh, so I see. I’m the hired help to carry all these. That’s why you asked me to come along,” I teased.
“Well, you are the new hire. You get the fun jobs,” she replied. “Just be glad I don’t make you scrub toilets.”
I made a face and Jaqui laughed. She pulled open the glass door to the coffee shop. The scent of roasted coffee beans and syrup filled my nose. I looked up at the menu and decided to order one of their breakfast sandwiches. I was really hungry now that I could smell food.
Jaqui and I stood in line, chatting about our lives. My phone burned in my back pocket with the image of the file I had stolen. I kept imagining giant neon signs pointing to me with the words, “traitor” and “thief.”
I wasn’t sure how long I could do this.
We ordered our food and coffee and stood off to the side of the counter while we waited for it to be made. I looked up to see the news on a lone TV. It appeared to be breaking news, with a man in a dark suit waving off reporters as he hurried into a car.
Jaqui followed my gaze. “Oh that. It’s been all over the news all morning.”
“What happened?” I asked. “I haven’t heard.”
“That guy is a congressman. Allegedly, he let some information leak to an oil company about some new drilling laws coming down the line. The oil company bought mining rights to the preserved area before the information was publicly available.” Jaqui shook her head as she looked up at the TV. “He is so screwed.”
“What do you mean?” My stomach turned to ice. His story was sounding far too similar to my own.
“He sold secret information. He’s going to go to prison. It doesn’t matter how much money he made off the sale of the info.” Jaqui narrowed her eyes. “I can’t stand people like that. They disgust me.”
Guilt hung around my shoulders like wet cloth. They called my name for my coffee and sandwich, but I suddenly had no appetite. My phone still burned against my body.
“Aria? Your coffee is ready,” Jaqui said, giving me a gentle bump. “You sure you’re okay? You went all pale again.”
“I’m fine,” I stuttered. I reached mindlessly for my coffee and knocked it over, spilling a good amount on my shirt. I wiped at it, but it was too late. I had coffee all over my cream-colored shirt. “I guess I just need more sleep.”
“Do you want another coffee?” Jaqui asked, handing me some napkins.
“No, it’s fine,” I said, dabbing at my shirt. “I managed not to spill all of it.”
“Are you almost caught up on your boxes? I’ve seen you hard at work all morning. Gus says you stayed late on Friday,” Jaqui said, picking up one of the drink carriers. I threw away the used napkins and picked up the second one along with my sandwich.
“Yeah, just trying to get ahead of things,” I replied. I didn’t tell her that I had been busy doing research for my stepsister and not totally focusing on the job I was hired for. Again, I felt like a terrible person. I was lying to my boss about so many things.
She smiled and together we headed back to the office. Gus waved to us as we came in.
“They brought that thief in,” Gus said to Jaqui. He nodded toward one of his screens. “They are going to crucify him.”
“You’ve been watching it?” I asked. I’d kind of been hoping that no one would notice something like this.
Gus nodded. “It’s big news. No one can believe he did it. Seemed like a decent guy and everything. It’s all over every channel.”
“He deserves everything coming to him,” Jaqui spat. “Stealing state secrets to make a profit? I hope he goes to jail and rots.”
I wanted to crawl under a rock and die.
I was scum. I was less than scum.
“When our Aria is in the senate, she won’t tolerate stuff like that,” Gus announced proudly. “You’ll be one of the good ones.”
“Yeah, right.” I was already a disappointment.
I handed off the coffees to Gus and went up to my office. There I promptly deleted the picture file off my phone. I felt like washing my phone off with soap or possibly burning it just to make sure the file was gone. It didn’t feel clean enough just to delete it. I restarted it several times just to be sure.
I couldn’t do this.
I wouldn’t do this.
Chapter 14
I left work feeling hopeful, but exhausted. I’d worked hard all day. I didn’t take any more pictures of documents for my stepmother. I was done with that. It felt rather liberating. I would record a few more of our conversations and I could go to the authorities with what I had.
I was going to win. I wouldn’t end up like that congressman.
I talked to Henry on the phone while I rode the train home. It wasn’t very private, but it was good to hear his voice. He was busy with work, but made sure to take time to call me. He was excited to see me on Tuesday.
He was tired of hearing me eating out all the time, so he wanted to see if he could teach me how to cook something more than ramen noodles and chicken nuggets. As such, I was responsible for pick
ing up groceries. He’d sent me a list of things I needed to buy for our meal. I had my grocery list ready for tomorrow’s shopping.
I had no idea what panko breadcrumbs were, but I was going to find them and buy them.
The sky was still light pink with shades of bruised purple as I rode the elevators up to my apartment. I was too tired to take the stairs. I just wanted to go home, take a shower, curl up in bed, and sleep for a week.
Unless Henry could come over. Then I wouldn’t need to sleep at all, though I would insist on the shower.
The elevator doors opened and I stepped out to find my stepmother standing in the hallway next to my apartment door.
I blinked twice, sure that I was seeing things, but she was really standing there in white slacks and a pricey black satin blouse. Today she wore a Louboutin purse and over-sized sunglasses.
“Audrey?” I still wasn’t sure she was actually at my apartment. As far as I knew, she had never been here. Besides, I’d seen her and given a report just a few days ago. I had been sure I still had a few more weeks before she would want results.
She was the absolute last person I wanted to see today.
“What in the world are you wearing?” Audrey held up her nose like she smelled something bad. I doubted she could smell me from that far, but I knew I smelled of nervous sweat and spilled coffee.
“I really don’t want to talk to you today,” I told her, putting my key in the lock. “Can we please do this another time?”
“No. We’re doing this now.” Audrey’s polite veneer disappeared. She put her hand on the door, making sure that I wasn’t going to keep her out. She was not in a good mood.
Great. I was going to have to let this crazy woman into my home.
Audrey waltzed into my apartment as soon as the lock clicked. While she looked away, I turned on the recording app on my phone. She looked around and sniffed. She held her bag closer to her as if my cheap things might rub off on her.
“Please, come inside,” I said sarcastically as I followed after her, making sure to leave an easy way out. I knew better than to get between an angry animal and its escape route. I headed to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink? I’m having wine.”