by Zena Wynn
She was totally engrossed in the movie, so much so that she couldn’t tell at what point she drifted off to sleep. Her body was being stroked from shoulder to hips, and she arched into the caress like a cat. “Jason,” she sighed sleepily and the stroking stopped.
When she murmured a complaint and rubbed against the erection pressing against her stomach, it continued. Gail slowly surfaced from sleep to realize her head pillowed on Greg’s chest. At some time during the movie, she had rolled over and one of her legs was thrown casually across his. A glance at the TV showed the movie was over.
Embarrassed, she planted a hand on either side of his chest and tried to lift off him. “I am so sorry I fell asleep on you. I must have been more tired than I realized.”
Greg locked his hands together at the small of her back, keeping her from moving. “Don’t be,” he said huskily, right before he flipped her onto her side between him and the back of the couch.
He captured her mouth in a kiss that gave no quarter. It demanded and got a response. He ate at her mouth, displaying his considerable skill as a lover. While her sleepy mind tried to catch up with the onslaught, his hand delved under her top and released the clasp on her bra. Once free of the encumbrance, his hand quickly claimed its prize. He caressed, stroked, and plucked her nipples until her whole body was shuddering with need.
When she was arching and rubbing against him, frantic to put out the fire he’d created in her body, Greg pulled away. “My name is Greg, not Jason. Maybe this will help you remember whose arms you’re lying in, hmm?”
Gail gazed blankly at him, her passion fogged mind not up to the task of deciphering what he was saying. Greg got up and gathered his coat and tie. “Bring the movie with you to work tomorrow, or I can just pick it up the next time I’m over. Don’t bother seeing me out.” He leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. “See you tomorrow. Get some rest.” He grabbed his briefcase and walked out of the door. She heard the click of the lock engaging behind him.
Gail lay on the couch, stunned and bewildered. She wanted to be mad that he’d deliberately aroused her when her guard was down and left her hanging, but something he said kept playing through her mind. Why had he mentioned Jason?
She could understand him being upset because she fell asleep. That was rude of her, but what did that last crack mean? She rose from the couch and straightened her clothes, then the rest of the place, her mind going over the events of the evening.
Finally, it came to her when she was lying in bed, half asleep. She thought she’d been dreaming, but maybe she hadn’t. Had she really called him Jason? Oh boy, no wonder he was ticked. No man liked being called by another man’s name, for any reason.
What he’d done was cruel, but effective. Her body knew his touch now. It wouldn’t automatically assume the hands touching her belonged to her dead husband. Well, at least that was one question answered. She could definitely say it was Greg she was attracted to, and not just the idea of having a man in her life and the personal attention he provided.
* * * *
The next morning, around ten, she called Mandy, Greg’s secretary, to see if he was available or busy with a client.
“No, he’s free right now if you hurry. He has to leave in about twenty minutes for court.”
“Thanks, Mandy. I’ll be right up.” Gail got up quickly, stopping only to let a co-worker know she’d be away from her desk for a few minutes.
When she entered Greg’s office, Mandy told her to go right in and winked at her, leaving her to wonder if she knew about the recent change in her and Greg’s relationship. She tapped on the door and walked in before he could grant her entrance.
Greg looked up, the phone attached to his ear, with an expression that showed he was irritated at the interruption. When he saw it was her, he said to whomever was on the phone, “Listen, let me call you back later. Someone just came into the office…um-hmm…alright, goodbye.”
Gail rounded the desk and moved his paperwork to the side. Once it was clear, she sat on the edge of it, between his legs. “You know, I should be seriously pissed with you for getting me all stirred up then leaving,” she scolded, her legs kicking back and forth between them.
“Really?” He sat back in his chair and stretched his legs out on either side of hers. “Then why aren’t you?”
“Because I have this vague memory of calling you Jason. Although I feel allowances should be made for the fact that I was half asleep at the time and didn’t know what I was saying, I can understand you’re being a bit miffed at the time.”
“Is that so?” He captured her by the ankles, lifted and separated her legs, and tugged. She slid off of the desk and into the chair with him, straddling his lap, her skirt indecently high upon her thighs.
He slid his hands up the back of her thighs, under her skirt. “Thigh highs. I like,” he murmured approvingly.
She settled more securely on his lap and braced her arms on his chest. “Glad you approve.” Gail lifted her chin and tilted her head, giving him easier access to the neck he was nuzzling.
He removed his hands from beneath her skirt and held her by the waist. “I told you I’d be your friend until you were ready for more, but I’ve been treating you more like we’re already lovers. If you’re feeling pressured, if I’m moving too fast for you, let me know.”
She leaned forward and kissed him, the first one she’d initiated. “I’m not ready to get naked with you, but I’m enjoying the attention and the affection you’re giving. I’ll let you know if I begin to feel uncomfortable.” In a way, she was glad he’d taken the initiative and forced her to accustom herself to his touch.
“Good, because the next time I have you in that position, I won’t stop until we’re both satisfied. Consider yourself warned.” He pulled her closer until she was nestled against his erection. With one hand cupping her head, he kissed her long and deep. “I have to be in court soon,” he said between kisses. “If I don’t leave in the next few minutes, Mandy will buzz me to see what the holdup is.” He possessed her mouth in another passionate kiss as his hands slid to cup her bottom and rub her gently against him.
Finally, Gail gathered her scattered wits and pushed him away. “I need to get back to my desk before they send out a search party.” She climbed off his lap and stood, straightening her clothes.
Greg rose from his seat, crowding her against the desk. “It’s going to be hell walking into court with this massive boner I’m sporting.”
“You’ve no one but yourself to blame.” She tried to ease around him.
He caught her by the waist and brought her close for one final kiss. “There’s no telling how long I’ll be at court, and I’ll have to come back to the office to finalize some things. I won’t be able to see you tonight, or tomorrow night either. Why don’t I take you out Friday? We can catch a movie or something?”
“Sounds good to me.” She waited and watched while he slipped on his suit jacket and straightened his tie. She brushed his hair back off of his forehead. “Perfect,” she proclaimed.
He picked up his briefcase with one hand and put the other at the small of her back. When they reached the door, he opened it and pulled it shut behind them. “Mandy, take messages. I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Put anything that can’t wait until tomorrow on my desk.”
“Yes, sir.” Mandy’s gaze bounced between the two of them. Gail resisted the urge to look down and see if her clothes mussed. She wished she had a mirror. This was one time she was glad she wasn’t a makeup wearer. At least she didn’t have to worry about smudged lipstick.
Greg kept his hand on her back as he escorted her out of the office and into the elevator. More than a courtesy, it felt like he was staking claim. When the elevator stopped at her floor, he said as she was getting off, “If I get the opportunity, I’ll call you tonight.”
Gail nodded to acknowledge that she’d heard him as the doors slid shut and went back to her desk. Miraculously, nobody seemed to have missed her or in
quired as to her whereabouts. She got back to work, happily anticipating the weekend to come.
Chapter Seven
It was another week before Crystal and Rashid returned from their vacation. Gail was home when she received the call.
“We’re back,” Crystal announce flatly.
“That must have been some trip. Four days that turned into two weeks? That’s not a mini-vacation. It’s a second honeymoon,” Gail teased.
“Yeah, I guess you could call it that.”
“What’s wrong? You just spent two weeks relaxing with your man. Why do you sound so depressed? Didn’t you have fun?” After a vacation like that, Crystal should have been so mellow it oozed out of her voice.
“Oh, the trip was great. He took me to Paradise Island and it was beautiful. Anything I wanted to do, and any place I wanted to go, we did. You should see the stuff I bought. Oh, and I got you a souvenir.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“It’s Rashid. He’s making me crazy. You’re right, the trip was a second honeymoon. Everything would have been perfect if it weren’t for those damned condoms,” Crystal complained.
“Did you say condoms?” Gail wasn’t certain she’d heard correctly.
“Yes, condoms,” Crystal confirmed bitterly. “I hate those things. Rashid knows this but he refuses to make love without one, like I’m going to give him a disease of something.”
“Well, have you discussed this with him? If you haven’t, you should talk to him about how you feel.” Gail was really uncomfortable with this discussion. A couples’ sex life was their private business. She didn’t want to know what went on in her friend’s bedroom.
“I’ve told him I don’t like the damned things and we don’t need them. He insists. Says he won’t chance me getting pregnant again. It doesn’t matter that I’m on the Pill.”
“Other than that, you enjoyed your vacation, right?” Gail tried to redirect the conversation. “I hope you got plenty of rest, because I’m sure your work was piling up while you were gone.”
“I have assistants but some of my projects still got behind schedule. I’m going to have to work some long hours to catch up. That’s another reason I called. I may not make it to your next doctor’s appointment. Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Yes, I’ll be fine. It’s probably going to be routine, and hopefully very short. You won’t be missing anything,” Gail assured her.
“I just wanted to make sure. I know we’re supposed to be doing this together and I promised to be there with you at all of the appointments.”
“Hey, stuff happens. I understand completely. You just make sure your schedule is free when Dr. Hagan does the sonogram to tell you what you’re having.”
“I will. I wouldn’t miss that for the world. Well, I better get off of the phone. We just got back and I have things to do. Before I go, is everything okay with you? Anything new in your life?”
“I’m fine. Things are quiet. I go to work and come home. I have been getting out of the house a little, renewing old acquaintances. Things of that nature. Nothing worth talking about.” Gail wasn’t ready to tell Crystal about Greg. The relationship was too new. Maybe in another month or so, if it lasted that long.
“Alright then, why don’t you come over for lunch tomorrow? We can catch up and I can show you the stuff I bought.”
“Make that dinner and you’ve got yourself a deal.” Gail was going to church with Greg in the morning and knew she wouldn’t be free for lunch.
“Dinner’s fine. Early or late?”
“Why don’t I come over around four? We can eat at five and lounge around the pool or something.”
“That’s a good time. Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow at four.”
“Until then, take care and cheer up,” Gail told her.
“You, too.”
When Crystal hung up the phone, she turned to see Rashid standing there. She wondered how long he’d been present and how much of her conversation had he heard.
“Was that Gail?” He pointed, indicating the phone.
“Yes. I called to let her know we were back.”
“Is she well? Are the babies alright?”
Crystal rolled her eyes. “She’s fine. We were only gone for two weeks. She’s coming over tomorrow evening for dinner so you can see for yourself. I’ve got to go. I have some running around to do, and I need to stop by the office to see how things are going. You want me to get you anything while I’m out?”
“No, I have need of nothing. Thank you. I may go by my office as well.”
“Okay, if you do call me and let me know what time to expect you home.” She kissed him on the cheek, grabbed her keys and left, still wondering how long he’d been standing behind her.
* * * *
“What happened to you?” Crystal asked. She reached out and took the beach bag Gail was toting.
“Too much sun,” Gail whispered. “My head is killing me.”
“Oh man, that sucks. Have you taken anything for it? You know you get migraines when you get overheated,” Crystal reminded her as she pulled Gail inside of the air-conditioned house.
When Gail pulled off her sunglasses, Crystal winced. From the look of those eyes, if Gail hadn’t taken any medication, it may already be too late. They narrowed against the light and filled with pain.
“Not yet. It wasn’t that bad earlier. My air conditioner picked today of all days to go out in my car. It must be at least 95 degrees today. And of course, the traffic was stop and go the whole way here,” Gail complained softly, as though the sound of her own voice was painful.
Crystal dragged Gail into the kitchen and pulled the pain reliever out of the cabinet. She passed the bottle to Gail and poured her a glass of water to down the pills with. Gail shook out three and popped them in her mouth, then pulled her hair out of the ponytail it was in, a sure sign of the pain she was feeling.
“Come into the family room and sit in the recliner. It’s not as bright in there. I’ll go upstairs and get the things I wanted to show you.” Crystal waited until Gail had herself situated before walking off.
As she walked past the office, she stuck her head inside. “Rashid, Gail’s here. She’s in the family room trying to cool off and relax. If you go in there, try to be quiet. She’s got a bad headache because she got overheated and she’s prone to migraines. Hopefully the medicine that I gave her will take effect in time.”
Humming to herself, she went upstairs and gathered the items together. There were pictures and a video, things Rashid purchased for her, etc. Now where did she put the seashell she’d bought Gail? She looked all over the room before remembering that she’d stuck it on the shelf in the closet. Once she had it, she was ready.
As she neared the family room, she heard the quiet murmur of Rashid’s voice. “You need to take better care of yourself than this. If the heat makes you sick, you need to stay out of it. You are especially vulnerable to its effects right now.”
“I know, Rashid, and usually I do but stuff happens. I had no control over the air in my car malfunctioning. It will be Wednesday before I can get it to the shop to have it fixed. Thank you, that feels good.”
When Crystal entered the room, Rashid had a damp towel lying on Gail’s forehead and was giving her a massage.
“Your neck and shoulders are very tight. It’s contributing to the pain in your head. And why are you fixing the vehicle? You should just buy a new one. It’s been tearing down more and more,” Rashid said as he took the towel off of her forehead, rung it out in the bowl next to him and replaced it, this time on her neck.
It did something funny to Crystal’s stomach to see Rashid playing nursemaid to Gail. It was petty of her, she knew, but she didn’t like it. She tried to ignore it as she joined the conversation. “I’m with Rashid on this one. I don’t understand why you haven’t bought a new one. It’s not like you can’t afford it.”
“The stuff breaking down on my car is normal maintenance things that have w
orn down because of the mileage. It’s expected. Besides, and I know you’ll both think this is foolishly sentimental of me, but that car is the one Jason bought for me when the business first started doing well. It’s really the last piece of him that I have. Thanks, Rashid. I feel much better now.” Gail removed the towel from her neck and handed it back to him.
He took the towel and the bowl and left the room. Gail looked at Crystal and told her, “You have a wonderful husband. You’re very lucky. It’s at times like these when I miss Jason the most.”
“Yes, I do,” Crystal acknowledged. Inside she felt guilty. How childish of her to begrudge Gail the little bit of comfort Rashid had given her when she considered all that Gail had lost. Rashid was hers. Every loving and caring ounce of him belonged to her. So he spent a few minutes helping her sick friend. She should be happy he was compassionate enough to do so, instead of jealous of the attention he was paying to someone else. “I’m glad you’re feeling better. Now I can show you the pictures from my trip.”
For the next hour, Gail laughed, ooh’d and ah’d over everything Crystal showed her. Then they joined Rashid in the dining room for dinner. Crystal served since Carmelita only worked half-days on weekends. The conversation was lively and fun and Crystal enjoyed herself immensely. She was sorry to see Gail leave but realized she needed to rest.
As they cleared the table, Rashid commented, “She’s really not that large to be four months pregnant with twins. Do you think that’s normal? Are we sure everything’s alright?”
“I’m sure everything is fine, but if you have any questions, she has an appointment next week. You can ask Dr. Hagan then.” Once again, all of this concern over Gail was starting to annoy her.
“Do you think she’ll get a newer vehicle? Jason wouldn’t want her holding onto that thing, not if it’s starting to tear up. It was used when he bought it.”
“I’m sure Gail will do whatever she deems best,” Crystal said shortly.