Once more, I try to center myself. But suddenly, the library is way too quiet. I feel creeped out and I’m shivering with fear. I gather my belongings and practically run to the elevator as I slip into my jacket. I rush out of the lobby and onto the sidewalk. It’s not until I’m in the thick of New York City’s Friday night foot traffic that I can finally calm down. Lost in the sea of anonymity, the crisp air seizes me. I free myself from the memory of the man who stole every shard of innocence I once had.
Chapter 16
Sergei’s phone call rattled me to the core last night. I’ve been feeling emotionally disheveled ever since. I even slept with my bedroom lights on and a butcher’s knife on my nightstand.
I’ll be damned if I ever let that monster anywhere near me again.
And I’ll be damned if I let him distract me from my work here at the firm.
I resumed my position here in the library at 10:00 a.m. sharp. Since I ran out of here so abruptly last night, I have a lot of catching up to do on my research. Trial is next week. My time is limited.
But I’m still shaken up. It’s hard to concentrate. Milk isn’t doing the trick.
I need coffee.
And chocolate.
I head off to the break room on the 7th floor.
I push through the door and see Michael making himself a cup of coffee. God, he looks good. Dressed in a blue and white pin-stripped shirt and a solid blue tie, dark stubble adorns his chin and his hair is sexy and mussed. I try to remain cool when he glances up briefly and notices me. “Good morning, Michael,” I say as I approach the coffee machine where he’s standing.
He doesn’t bother to look at me as he says, “Good morning.”
He moves out of the way as I reach for a coffee cup on the shelf above the coffee machine and he turns his attention to the financial section of the newspaper sitting on the counter in front of him as I slip a coffee pod into the machine.
I pout on the inside. I’d really like some attention from him right now. My telephone encounter with Sergei has me feeling off-balance and I’d really like to drown in the strength and confidence that emanates from Michael every time I’m near him. I’d like to feel safe right now.
I need him.
I peer at his newspaper. “Are the markets good today?” Where did that silly question come from?
He looks at me briefly, his expression impassive. “The markets are closed on Saturdays.”
“Of course.” Of course the markets are closed on Saturdays. I know that. I feel like an idiot. I don’t make eye contact with him as I take my steaming cup of coffee from the machine.
After a moment of awkward silence, Michael grabs his coffee and the newspaper and heads to the door. “Have a good day, Ruth.” His tone is completely devoid of interest or emotion.
A flood of disappointment washes over me as I realize that Michael doesn’t want me anymore. Feeling like an utter loser, I walk over to the vending machine and buy myself two caramel chocolate candy bars. I need all the comfort I can get right now.
Abandoning my cup of coffee in the espresso machine, I head out of the break room.
But I find myself walking in the direction of Michael’s office. Not towards the library. Not towards my cubicle. Towards Michael’s office.
The door is open. He sits at his desk, typing away on his computer.
I enter, shutting the door behind me. His eyes spring up to me and he wears a surprised look on his face.
I pull at the sash of fabric at my waist and my dress falls open.
Chapter 17
I round the desk slowly, tentatively my eyes peeled to his gorgeous face.
There’s a fire in his eye. I find it intimidating but I won’t back down.
I want him.
“Peace offering…” I say with a coy smile as I stretch a caramel-filled candy bar out to him, taking a seat on the lip of his desk right in front of him. I try to act coquettish and demure as if my body isn’t almost completely on display for him to ravage.
“Peace offering?” He’s fighting to suppress a mischievous grin as he pushes his chair back and stands to his feet.
“I know you’re mad at me. Because I didn’t let you blow your load in the elevator,” I say playfully.
He moves close to me. Jeeze – he’s so gorgeous. My stomach flutters as I look up at him. He’s towering over me now. All strong and virile and masculine. Just like I need him to be. “I’m not mad. I’m just not sure it’s worth the trouble to pursue you.”
He takes the chocolaty treat from my hand and tears the wrapper open, his eyes never leaving mine. My tongue darts out and moistens my lips as I watch him bring the bar to his mouth and take a hearty bite. The nerves in my stomach are raw and tingly and my sex spasms as I watch him savor the candy bar.
“You like it?” I ask to fill the nerve-wracking silence hovering above us. He nods lightly as he groans his approbation, those piercing blue eyes now focused on my parted lips.
“You want to taste it?” he asks provocatively. He can’t know what that question does to me on a primal level.
“Yes.” Yes – I want to taste that chocolate bar and every inch of Michael’s skin.
He brings the chocolate bar to my mouth and drags it lightly against my lips. Sticky caramel coats my quivering lips. He’s so close. So warm. I moan softly as my eyes flutter shut. Then, his mouth is on mine. He suckles tenderly on me. And he tastes divine – chocolate and caramel and his own distinct flavor. My hands fly to the back of his head, urging his face closer to mine so I can taste him even more. He sets the candy bar on the desk next to me and his hands race over my exposed thighs.
Fuck!
I can feel the wetness trickling out of me.
He puts his palms on the small of my back and pulls me closer to the edge of the desk. Closer to him. When I feel his erection brush up against me, my head rolls back as I moan with wanton disregard. His lips are on my neck now, as his warm hands ease the dress off my shoulders. “I’ve decided – you’re worth the trouble,” he whispers against my skin as he pulls at the clasps holding my bra in place before gliding the straps off of my shoulders.
It barely registers in my mind that I’m sitting on my boss’s desk in nothing but my black lacey boy shorts.
Just as my good sense is about to return, his phone rings startling him back to reality. He tears his lips away from my flesh for just long enough to glance at the caller ID. He groans, ”Argh – I’ve got to take this.” I try to mask my disappointment as I reach back to put on my dress.
“Michael Moretti,” he says with a hint of irritation in his voice as he yanks the dress out of my hands and tosses it to the floor.
I hear a booming male voice come in on the other end of the line but I can’t decipher what he’s saying.
“We’ve discussed this Mr. Cartwright. I know you’re looking for a quick and easy solution but merging with another law firm is not the way to go for us. We have other options and we should explore them before accepting any outside offers.” Annoyance covers Michael’s face. Still, he flicks at my erect nipple with his index finger. I throw my hand over my mouth to suppress a moan.
Michael moves closer to me and runs his nose along the crux of my neck before his tongue darts across my collarbone.
“Bigger isn’t necessarily better, Mr. Cartwright.” He’s one to talk with that 10-inch dick of his. “Well, at least when it comes to law firms.” He throws me a wink. “Pre-2008, that might have worked. But not today. Not in today’s economy.”
He gently pushes me back onto his desk and spreads my legs wide without skipping a beat in his conversation. Then, he slowly pulls my panties off of my body. The heels of my pumps click against the wood as he brings my soles to the table. I turn and watch him as he strides over to his office door and locks it. He hunches over his desk until his lips are trailing down the side of my ribs. Overwhelmingly aroused, I reach down and push his head closer to my throbbing clit. I need him to taste me. I need it bad.
<
br /> He looks up at me and frowns. He straightens up and cradles his phone between his cheek and shoulder as he yanks his tie from around his neck. He rounds the table and now, he’s standing near my head. “I understand your impatience, but we have to make the right decision for the entire firm. Not just for the partners. For everyone. What’s the point of getting a huge payout for the partners if it means we’ll have to cut twenty-five percent of the support staff, the paralegals and the interns three months down the line?”
At the mention of job cuts at the firm, my eyes bulge open. So, the rumors are true. The firm is in financial trouble.
I can’t lose my internship. I really can’t.
I’m quickly distracted when Michael reaches for both of my hands and clasps them together. He then wraps his silk necktie around my wrists, binding them together. I glare at him. How dare he tie me up?
But, I release my resistance the moment his tongue runs along my hipbone, sending electricity zinging through my body. “I know they haven’t mentioned layoffs – at least not explicitly – but you’ve been around the block, Mr. Cartwright. You know how these things work. Two law firms get married. Then, there’s the honeymoon phase. Then, the layoffs start. We can’t let that happen here. That’s not what my father would want. We have good people working for us. We have to protect them.” He picks up the candy bar and takes another bite before turning his attention back to me. He runs the melting candy from my belly button all the way down to my aching core. I’m burning with anticipation by the time his lips touch my stomach. My desire is so urgent, so pressing. I groan loud and hard.
I hear Mr. Cartwright ask what that noise was. Michael looks at me and frowns. “Oh, that was nothing,” he says nonchalantly, “continue what you were saying.” He reaches for my dress, then removes the thick satin sash at the waist. With a wicked grin, he leans towards me and ties the sash around my mouth. Now, I’m bound and gagged and pulsing with need.
Michael leans forward and laps up the chocolate melting in my belly button. Then, his tongue moves down, closer and closer to my eager bud. I squeeze my eyes shut, my back arching off of the desk. I’m moments away from feeling his beautiful mouth on my pussy and I don’t know how to control my impatience.
“You want to meet now?” My eyes dart to Michael’s face. He can’t leave now. He can’t just leave me hanging like this.
I need release.
And I need it from him.
“Okay. Be at my office with Mr. Stevenson in 15 minutes. We’ll talk then.” With that he hangs up the phone. I writhe against the table and groan loudly, begging him to untie my mouth. After he’s satisfied himself licking at my flushed skin, he finally removes the gag.
“You can’t do this. You can’t just leave me like this,” I whine shamelessly.
He laughs softly as he unbinds my hands. He pulls me into a seated position and squats so we’re eye to eye. “Ruth – I’ve been walking around with blue balls since you ran out of the elevator three weeks ago. I’ve tried picking up women at bars. I’ve tried calling up old fuck friends. I’ve tried it all. But my cock wants what it wants…and that’s you.”
I whimper at his words.
“Get dressed,” he commands softly. I slowly ease off of his desk and grab my now-wrinkled clothing from the floor. He shoves my bra and panties into my purse as I slip into my dress. He reaches into the pocket of his pants and pulls out a bunch of keys. He hands it to me. “My driver will pick you up downstairs in five minutes. He’ll bring you to my apartment.” He tenderly glides a few strands of hair out of my face. “You’ll take a nice warm bath. And when I get home in an hour, you’ll be lying in my bed. Wearing nothing but those heels.”
I feel my pussy quiver softly but still I protest. “I have research to do. Intellectual property stuff,” I say weakly.
“I’m an entertainment lawyer – remember? Intellectual property is my forté. After I fuck the shit out of you three or four times, we’ll discuss your research.” He brings his lips so close to me that the tiny hairs on my neck stand at attention. “And then…I’m gonna fuck you some more.”
I shiver at the threat.
He pulls me close to his chest and his lips find mine in a slow, sensual kiss that I know is merely a preview of things to come. I’m breathless by the time he pulls away from me.
He adjusts the sash of my dress. “Now, go.”
Chapter 18
When I let myself in to Michael’s ultra-modern Gramercy high-rise apartment, I can’t help but be impressed. Breathtaking black and white photography of New York’s skyline adorns the pristine white living room walls. The all-black furniture is minimalistic, the dark wood floors gleam and the views of Gramercy Park are spectacular.
I didn’t even know that homes this luxurious existed in the city. I take the liberty of giving myself a tour of the apartment, from the lavish kitchen with its stainless steel appliances and granite countertops to the expansive music room with its massive grand piano and even an antique jukebox. I get to the home office and find walls covered with books and art. I can’t help but peek at the documents spread out on the large cedar desk.
Designating Petition for Nomination for Public Office? My breath catches in my throat – Michael is running for office?
Mygod.
This is just further confirmation that I need to leave this beautiful man alone. I can’t get too close. A girl like me could ruin him.
…But first, I need one more night with him. After we fuck tonight, I need to leave him alone.
I wander out of the office and I finally find myself in the bedroom. It’s large with arched windows overlooking Gramercy Park. I can’t help but imagine Michael’s warm, sculpted body pressing mine into the cool glass as he takes me from behind under the brilliance of the moonlight. Or him pining me to his plush king-sized bed while giving me more pleasure than my body can stand.
I know what he’s capable of. He’s already given me one unforgettable night and right now, I need another.
I’m so excited. I’m counting the seconds until he gets here.
I pad over to the luxurious en suite bathroom. I tug on the sash of my dress and I groan as the satiny fabric tumbles off my body, onto the floor. My skin is hot and my desire pools between my thighs. I’m so tempted to use my fingers to take myself over the edge right now but I know that my pleasure will be so much more explosive if I just wait for Michael’s touch.
Just as I’m about to turn on the faucet in the egg-shaped bathtub, I hear the front door open. I can’t believe Michael’s home already. He said he’d be an hour.
But then, I hear a voice. A woman’s voice.
“Michael?” Loud and shrill.
I freeze in place, bent over the tub with my hand on the faucet. What the fuck? Who is that?
“Michael?” I hear the voice coming closer as the woman’s heels click-clack across the hardwood floors. I flick off the bathroom lights just before she enters the adjoining bedroom. I peer out from the crack in the door. “Where are you, Michael?” she sighs in frustration as she balances a large brown paper bag of groceries against her hip. She turns slightly and her face comes into view.
Fuck!
It’s the woman from the law firm. The woman who brought him coffee the other day…What’s her name again?
She sets the groceries down at the foot of the bed and slips her phone out of her purse. She punches a few keys and Michael’s landline rings on the nightstand next to his bed. She waits till her call goes to voicemail. “Hey handsome. It’s me – your fiancée –“
Wait…what?
I feel my jaw go loose as she speaks into the receiver. “I was hoping you’d make me dinner tonight. I’ve got groceries and everything. Anyway, give me a call when you get this message.” She hangs up with a sigh. Then, she sits on the edge of his bed, her fingers running across the sheets. She picks up his pillow and hugs it to her chest, burying her nose in the fabric. She moans lightly and runs her hand up her thigh, up under the
hem of her skirt.
I can’t believe my eyes. Please god, don’t let this crazy woman start masturbating right in front of me.
The heavens seems to have answered my prayers when she glances at the bag of groceries and mumbles, “Dammit – the gelato’s melting.” She leaps to her feet and grabs the grocery bag before scurrying out of the room.
After what seems like an eternity, I hear the front door slam shut. I sigh my relief.
What the hell was I thinking deciding that it’s okay to fuck Michael again? I can’t do this. There are just too many ways this can go wrong. If that woman had seen me, my reputation would have been shot. I would yet again be known as the girl who sleeps with the boss to get special perks.
Ruthie's Desire - The Esquire Girls Series - Ruthie's Story (Books 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Box Set Page 5