Wearing only a robe with my hair in a towel, I went to go decide what to wear tonight. Something demure, yet sexy. Something that said come and get me but wasn’t too easy. Something that said submissive but not insecure. I literally couldn’t decide when I thought I heard a knock on the door. I snagged my phone off my dresser as I walked past to check if Nicholas had messaged while I had showered. I went out to the living room, the better to listen to see what had made the noise.
As I stood there, I heard the key in the lock and stood back as ordered for safety in case someone tried to get in. Really, I felt as if I were in a James Bond film at all the secrecy and caution, but every piece of evidence uncovered went beyond normal office security breech, and my imagination burned with possibilities. My earlier elation turned to a hard brick of fear. Maybe it was Nicholas, I told myself.
Patiently, I waited for him to get in. When he seemed to still have trouble, I almost called out to him, but something stopped me. Maybe my promise not to do that. I bit my lip, feeling stupid. Then I brightened. I could call him.
I pulled his number up and waited to hear his phone in the doorway outside. When he answered, I heard nothing outside my door, and, I hadn’t heard a ring. That fear trenched through me and settled in my gut which clenched tight enough to produce diamonds.
He repeated the hello and then said my name. I whispered, “Someone’s outside my door, trying to get in.”
He said, “Hang up and call the police. Now. I’m on my way. Don’t worry about if we’re wrong. Better safe than sorry under the circumstances.”
I hung up without saying anything and did as he asked. Even if it wasn’t related to the case, no one should still be trying to work the lock when I hadn’t answered the door. When the emergency dispatcher asked what kind of emergency, I whispered, “Police.” I backed away from the door and headed to my room, feeling my way along the wall.
Took forever, but a police dispatcher finally came on the line. “How can I help you?”
“Intruder,” I said as quietly as I could manage. I finally made it to my room and shut the door quietly. I went to my window and opened it, peering down as the dispatcher rattled off a bunch of questions in my ear. There was someone at the bottom of the fire escape. I quickly ducked my head back in.
“Are you able to answer? Press a button once for no.”
My eyebrows shot up my face at the ingenuity of the dispatcher, but I hit a button, grateful I didn’t have to keep trying to talk.
“Do you know how many perps? Press the button for how many you think there are. If there are three, press it three times, and so forth.”
I hit the button twice.
“Two people. Could there be more? Once for no, twice for yes.”
I pushed it twice. I had no idea how many were in the hall or if they had other entrances to my apartment complex watched.
“I’ve dispatched a unit to the address on file.” She rattled off the apartment complexes address, and I breathed in deeply, thankful it was correct. “Is this correct, same as before.”
A loud glass crash echoed through my house. I held my breath. They were in.
“Was that from within your apartment?”
I again pressed our developed code for yes.
“Help is minutes away. Hang in there.”
The seconds ticked by slow and terrifying, stretching to eternity to my fear filled mind. The absolute silence in the apartment felt wrong, abnormal, as if the walls themselves were trying not to breathe. Using the little bit of light from the bathroom’s night light, I knelt and snagged my jeans from earlier, throwing them on, along with the tee I’d been wearing. Whoever was breaking in, I didn’t want to be caught naked.
Huddled into a corner of my room, waiting, I heard a scuffle outside. Cautiously, I moved to the window and peered down in time to see Nicholas block a punch, then deliver three-part blows and then an upper cut, and the other man toppled over. I suppressed the impulse to cheer, but my heart quickened in relief. The cops may be minutes away, but Nicholas would be in the apartment by then. I’d take him and his army training any day for protection. Clanging footsteps echoed my way as he started up the metal staircase, and I glanced back to my bedroom door. My place wasn’t too big. If they knew someone was home, they’d be here soon.
I grabbed the lamp by the bed and then stood behind the door, waiting. The dispatch kept a running narrative of ETA for the cops, four minutes, what not to do if confronted, how to defend myself if necessary, and basically was my rock. But rock or not, I’d drop the phone in a hot minute if they came through that door. I wanted both hands on the lamp when it hit whomever had decided to scare the shit out of me—or worse.
Nicholas crawled through my open window, quiet as a ninja from my point of view. Probably something he learned in the Army. I couldn’t help the grin which crossed my face for a brief second as a nearby street light lit his face as he ducked sideways while holding up the curtain, but then the door near me moved. I let the phone fall and lifted the lamp above my head. Someone taller than me cleared their head of the door, headed toward the light of the bathroom, and I pulled down with all my might. The man stumbled, only dazed, and quickly recovered.
He turned in with a roar of fury at me. I backed up toward my closet with half a mind to lock myself in there. The guy pursued me in a silent game of cat and mouse. I tried to keep my focus on the bad guy, but the intruder reached out and managed to grab my throat. His extensive reach surprised me. All I could do was gasp and try to get his hand off me, hoping Nicholas could fight the man off before he hurt me too badly. The low light of the bathroom kept him backlit, the face hidden from me, making him like a shadow of terror attacking me.
I heard a click sort of noise and peered over the shoulder of the man choking me. He’d stopped squeezing, and now I could see why. Nicholas held a gun to his head.
“Move slowly. Take your hand off her throat.” Nicholas backed way off the guy as he gave the order.
I wondered why, but then the guy flung himself around. He’d misjudged where Nicholas stood. But he still tried to get to Nicholas.
“Stop. I’d rather take you in alive because I hate the paperwork of killing someone,” Nicholas said in a low voice as if discussing the constant rainy weather. He shrugged. “But you touched my woman and tried to kill her. Your choice.”
I shivered. I could finally see Nicholas as he would have been on the battlefield. The intruder took a step back toward the door, then became brave and sneered. “You won’t win this, Nicholas. My friend will help me.”
Nicholas’ white teeth gleamed in the streetlight which shone through a crack in the curtain. “You mean the one kissing the pavement, waiting for the police to round him up? That one? Or the one already in jail? Have you heard from Jose lately, Ernie?”
I gasped. Ernie? “From the tech center, Ernie?”
Ernie sneered. “Shoulda known you were sleeping with the ice princess,” he said.
The police came just as I saw Nicholas tense up. They burst in, their guns blazing, their flashlights blinding. Ernie rushed at me, but as I stood off to the side and a little behind the door, I hadn’t been blinded as the men were. I jumped out of his way, and he stumbled into the closet.
The police yelled freeze at both Nicholas and Ernie, asked if I was okay. “This man broke into my home,” I said, pointing to Ernie. “This one is my boyfriend who saved me. There was another guy down there,” I said, gesturing out my window.
“She means at the bottom of the fire escape. One was waiting for her to try to run. I knocked him out and came up the fire escape.”
It took hours to get our statements done. Ernie and his accomplice, Fred from accounting, got hauled off in a beautifully undignified matter.
I was exhausted and couldn’t hardly think, but of course, when we lay naked in bed, my mind latched on to the oddest thing. “Ice princess?”
“Yes. I have heard it bandied about when they think I can’t hear. You are app
arently telling everyone no if they ask to sleep with you, even the women.”
“So I’m an ice princess instead of a professional who doesn’t want to have inner office sexcapades?”
He laughed, but I was pretty sure I remained scowling. He kissed me affectionately. “I know you’re not an ice princess. Most of the people who work with you daily know that.”
I caught the qualifier most, but decided to ignore it for now. I’d had a good scare, and my hero had rescued me. I sighed. As if I’d needed another reason to adore him. “Well, my big, strong hero, whatever shall I do to reward you?” I batted my eyelashes then started laughing. I couldn’t really do it with intention.
He slapped my ass and grinned. “I’m sure, if you put your mind to it, that you’ll think of something.”
I returned his grin with a saucy one of my own and reached for his semi-hard dick. “I suppose I could think of something pleasing to both of us. Hmmm…” I teased his nipple then moved down while I stroked him with my hand.
I’d crawled between his legs within a short time. By that point, his wood had gone full hard on. I licked my lips and peered up at him from a position a hair’s breadth away from the tip. His eyes darkened as he watched. I flicked my tongue out and ran it along the tip as I clutched the base tightly with my hand. “Maybe…”
His hand snaked out and grabbed my hair while pushing me down on his now throbbing penis. I shuddered in pleasure at his taking control. His hips rose and dropped as he fucked my mouth. I skimmed my nails across his thighs and had the satisfaction of catching him moan.
I drew him in, making pleasure noises in the back of my throat. My pussy clenched as a small orgasm slipped through, and then a bigger one started to build. Between his hand in my hair and his dick in my mouth, my body was enticed and teased and wanted more. More. I didn’t think I’d ever get enough of having him in me, anywhere he wanted to put it. He pumped one long time deep to my throat and then just held it there. I thought for sure he’d come then, but his self-control impressed me.
He pulled his dick out and brought me up to his face as he kissed me hard. “On all fours,” he ordered roughly, already flipping me to the position he wanted. His nails scored my back.
I arched and screamed in shock and pleasure-pain he’d already taught my body to enjoy. Then he slowly entered me. I tried to back into him, and he smacked my ass and pulled my head back by the hair, the other hand on my hip as he held me still. “Not until I say, remember? On all fours, you are totally submissive.”
The roughness of his voice had me breathing hard and quivering. In the aftermath of being attacked, I’d sort of forgotten. I could beg, if I wanted. I turned my head and looked at him over my shoulder, then winked. I caught his grin before he could suppress it, but he still slapped my ass again in punishment. I guess being saucy didn’t count as totally submissive with him.
To my mind, he was trying to go slow to get control back after having someone break in the front door and try to kill me. I wanted to celebrate being alive and having Nicholas protect me. My hero, I thought again. “My hero,” I whispered as he made it balls deep within me.
I don’t know if it was my words or if he’d used up all his control trying to torture me, but at that moment, he started thrusting hard in and out of me. My throat was sore from the man’s hands on me, but I ended up calling out in pleasure until it was raw, painful, and still, he slammed into me like he’d never stop.
I held as immobile as I could, but I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Please,” I begged. I wanted to beg him to move, but wasn’t sure if I were allowed. I was panting by this point, my pussy swollen, my nipples aching as they swung every time he slammed into me.
He reached a hand around to my breast, bringing his body more aligned with mine. “Since you asked so nicely…you can move now, but you can’t come until I say.”
I cried in relief and began letting my body move as it desired in time with his movements. Soon I was begging for release, to allow me to let it loose. Each time I asked, he spanked me again, or sometimes, he pinched a nipple.
Finally, he said, “Come.” as he moved his hand down to my clit and pinched with a quick release. The quick pain then super sensitized sensation rolled through me and knocked me into a screaming orgasm I couldn’t control. He sped up and followed me over the edge before I’d finished. I just kept milking him with my climax as it continued to rumble through my body. Finally, I could move enough to flop down on my belly.
He followed me down, still joined, so I shivered as another orgasm wound its way through.
Obviously quite proud of himself, he rolled to the side next to me and stroked my arms as he spoke. “Well, am I still?”
Confusion filled me. Was he still what? I cast my mind back and realized that I’d called him a hero. I grinned. “Oh yes. Definitely. My hero.”
Come Monday, I seriously considered not going in to the office even though I’d been cleared. Nicholas had spent the weekend celebrating by really pushing my submission training. He’d added a couple more rules, then made me practice over and over again. He’d even brought out whips.
I caught myself grinning again despite the pain in my whole apex area and my back and my front and my thighs… A groan left my lips as memory brought on echoes of orgasms. Maybe I should go back home after all. I still hurt from head to toe, in every crevice, and every movement caused flashbacks to the weekend. It would be hard to focus on work. Then again, I expected a difficult day. Might as well have the pleasure of the distraction of my body and memories of Nicholas to keep me from losing my cool.
From what the investigator said, there had to be more people involved. At least one person with inside knowledge beyond the IT guys. I was a little nervous going back before they had everyone, but the police seemed to think Fred and Ernie were the ones likely doing the physical damage.
I parked in my usual spot, took the elevator, and walked back in the office, head held high. I made eye contact with every one of them. A few couldn’t hold my gaze, the others clapped at my return. I allowed myself to smile. Nicholas was right—as usual. I sighed and took my place at my desk.
The office chair pushed into my swollen vulva, and I nearly stood straight back up with a scream. I bit my lip instead. Holy hell, did I hurt. I think both us had been working out the stress of this last week. I began the arduous task of sorting emails and easing my way back into a routine…and ease my way around the chair. Fucking. Hell.
“We all know you’re sleeping with the boss,” Kim hissed suddenly.
I jolted. So intent on my work that I hadn’t heard her, the words came even more ominously to my consciousness. I tilted my head to the side and slanted my eyes as I deliberately and quite obviously eyed her up and down. “Missing Ernie,” I countered, taking a stab in the dark as to why she’d become bold in her harassment.
Her face drained of all color. The translucence of her skin came so strongly and suddenly that I stood up with half an idea that I should call an EMT or something. “You bitch,” she said and stalked off.
Worry etched its way into my heart. Despite my being gone for a week, the personal enmity between her and myself had hit mountainous proportions, and I didn’t understand why. My flippant remark meant to say I knew what went on while I was gone and so didn’t care about her office gossip had not gone as planned.
That night, I told Nicholas about the conversation as we ate dinner out. His hand stopped midair, and for the second time that day, I wondered if I needed to call for an ambulance. I raised my eyebrows at him and waited for an explanation.
“You may have found the missing link,” Nicholas said, color back in force on his face.
For the love of… “To what, exactly?”
“The investigators couldn’t line up all the pieces. Something didn’t fit.”
“But Ernie was in my house!”
“Yes, there’s no doubt Ernie, Fred, and Jose are part of it. However, the motivation to kill you seems less than
stellar for the prosecution, and I agree. Killing you puts them from thieves to murderers, and that’s a huge jump, profile wise, mainly because they haven’t found proof against them regarding the other deaths yet. They need something tangible. Then they think they can begin to link all the pieces. You may have provided it.”
This time, my fork stopped midair. He was right. Why hadn’t I thought of that already? “Then, what do you think…” She wouldn’t have…no.
“Shake your head all you want, but it makes sense. She’s been jealous of you since you started. She used to come into my office three times a day, complaining about ‘that new girl’ who couldn’t seem to do anything right. I had to talk to my assistant about you to see if there was anything to Kim’s prattling. I thought it might just be from having you come on so soon after Denise’s death.”
I swallowed hard, the last bit I’d eaten still lodged there as hurt and anger dueled for supremacy. Anger won. “What in the fires of hell did I ever do to her?”
“I don’t know what her problem is. Off and on since she’s worked for my company, she’s been in a relationship with Ernie and Jose and Fred, with rumors about women too…”
He trailed off, but I saw a flash of knowing cross his face. Probably matched mine. “All of whom she has used to do her dirty work,” I finished for him. It made sense. “Let me ask you this, how much of a play has she done on you?”
He frowned. “She hinted quite a few times she’d be willing to do more than paperwork for me. Always tried to make it like a joke or something when I responded in the negative. I finally had to really be cold to her about it.”
I stabbed my shrimp and then pointed it at Nicholas as I spoke. “And there’s your reason for her hating me.”
He frowned, and I just knew his male brain wasn’t grasping the concept. “But…we didn’t sleep together until that fire drill two weeks ago.”
Seduction in a Suit: An Office Romance Collection Page 97