by Noir, Stella
I nearly groan aloud. I really should grab my bag and hightail it out of here. Jason Black looks like nothing but trouble. But I promised Chloe I would cover for her. Plus, she has worked for him for two years without incident. But I wonder if he strips her with his eyes, like he is doing to me at the moment. He remains silent as his smoldering gaze roams my body. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that he can see beneath my dress. I feel violated but turned on at the same time. His eyes finally lift to meet mine. “Welcome to Black Incorporated, Ms. Watson. I will do my best to ensure that you enjoy your time here.”
My heart skips a beat. Is it my imagination, or did his last statement sound very suggestive? I swallow hard and force out a smile, “Thank you, Mr. Black.” He nods and turns to disappear into his office. I drop down in the chair behind my desk. How am I going to get through the week? I am going to be plagued by the memory of Jason Black’s hands on me. I danced with him at Chloe’s wedding and had sex dreams about him for the past two nights, and now he is my boss. Talk about awkward. The only comforting thing about this whole situation is that it will only last for a week. I pray that the days fly by. I need to just try to stay focused on doing a good job. Speaking of which, I remember that Chloe left me a guide, God bless her heart.
I locate the folder in the top drawer of the desk. I find a list of things to do for Mr. Black on a daily basis and his itinerary for the week. It is filled with scheduled meetings. I read through the detailed instructions. I glance at the clock on the wall; apparently I am five minutes late with the boss’s coffee. Luckily, Chloe was considerate enough to mention the location of the break room and how Mr. Black likes his coffee. I quickly run across the hall to make the cup of coffee for him.
I knock on Mr. Black’s door. “Come,” he says. I push the door open to find him engrossed in paperwork. I stand in front of his desk, unsure of what to do next. I don’t know if I should interrupt him to hand him the cup or just place it on his desk and leave. I finally make a decision, “Uh, Mr. Black, your coffee.” I extend the cup to him with shaky hands. I pray that I don’t spill the dark liquid all over his desk.
“Black, no sugar?” he asks.
I nod, “Yes, sir.”
“You can drop the sir, Navia. Can I call you Navia?”
“Sure.” I almost tell him he can call me anything he wants with that sexy baritone voice of his.
He cocks an eyebrow, “Are you going to watch me drink my coffee, Navia?”
I realize that I am standing in front of his desk staring at him. “Huh? Oh, uh, no. Do enjoy.” I turn to amble quickly through the door. Can I be any more of an idiot? I give myself a mental kick and plop down in my chair. Jason Black must think I am a total idiot. I try to forget that I made a complete fool of myself and engross myself in work. I answer the phone and refer calls to Mr. Black for the remainder of the morning.
I stick my head in his office to remind him of his afternoon meeting. He thanks me without looking up from his task. This work environment is not so bad after all. I revel in the fact that I am isolated from the other employees. The less people I have to deal with the better. The boss has pretty much ignored me all morning, which sits just fine with me. I don’t think I can handle any more of his heated looks.
At around four o’clock I hear his door open and I look up. The man has been holed up in his office all day. I don’t know how he did it. He approaches my desk. “I’m heading out for my meeting now, Navia. I will need you to remain here until I get back, which might be a bit of overtime. But I will compensate you for the extra time, of course.”
“Sure, no problem.” Of course I will do a little over time. I need all the extra money I can get. Hell, I will even stay overnight if he wants me to. I have nothing to go home to anyway, just a crappy apartment in a broken-down building and no company. I watch Mr. Black saunter away. Things are going great so far.
Now alone in the office, I whip my cell phone out to give my mother a call. “Baby girl, I hope you are calling to tell me you have come to your senses, and you are coming home,” my mother says dryly.
I scowl. “Hello to you, too, Mother.”
She chuckles, “Hi honey. How are you?”
“I’m OK. Great actually,” I beam.
“Great, huh? What exactly has you so excited?”
“A new job. Well, it’s temporary, but I’m getting a nice chunk of change and I will be sure to land something permanent after this.”
“Oh, well, that is great, dear.” Her Cuban accent is more pronounced. She doesn’t sound too happy. I know it’s because she is dying for me to leave New York. She is convinced that I am going to get robbed or killed. I can’t seem to reassure her enough that I will be fine.
“You don’t have to pretend, Mom, I know you’re not really happy.”
She gasps, “Of course I am, sweetheart. How can you even say that? I am happy that you are happy.”
I smile, “Thanks, Mom. Is everything all right with you?”
“Oh yes, other than the fact that my youngest is in a dangerous big city.”
I roll my eyes, “Please don’t start on that again, Mom. The entire world can be dangerous, not just big cities.”
“OK, OK, fine, whatever you say, baby girl.”
“I can’t talk too long. I’m still at work. I just wanted to let you know I’m all right.”
“OK, my little one. You take care of yourself. I will talk to you soon. Love you.”
“I will, and I love you too, kisses.” I hang up and shake my head. I never have a conversation with my mother without her bringing up the dangers of big cities. She is desperate to get me back to North Carolina. I almost gave in too, ready to throw in the towel and go home. But landing this temporary job, my hope has been renewed. I might just make it in the big city, after all.
*
It is almost six in the evening and I am still sitting at my desk. I’m sure just about everyone else has gone home. I wonder if Mr. Black remembers that he asked me to remain in the office until he gets back. I sit patiently and wait. Luckily, he strolls into the office not too long after. He seems to be in a dark mood. Maybe his meeting didn’t go very well. His gaze finds me and roams over my face. I am tempted to pull out my mirror and look to see if I have something on my face. “Navia, thank you for waiting, follow me to my office please,” he says softly.
I nod and quickly get up, not wanting to upset him any further. As I make my way to the office I wonder what this is all about. Consternation creeps in as negative thoughts fill my mind. Maybe I did something wrong or maybe he doesn’t like the way I work. What if he is calling me into his office to fire me on my first day? My shoulders droop slightly. If I can’t do a job for one week or even a day, who is going to hire me now? We reach his office and he shuts the door, turning the lock. I frown. That’s strange. Why does he feel the need to lock the door? I nibble nervously at my lower lip and twirl my hands together. “Uh, how was your meeting?” I ask feebly, forcing a smile. It’s very hard to do, considering that I am a nervous wreck.
“It didn’t go as planned,” he says shortly.
I release a low breath. OK, maybe this has nothing to do with me after all. “I’m sorry to hear that.” I look at him expectantly, waiting for him to tell me why he wanted me to stay after hours and why I am standing in his office. All he does is rake his gaze over me. He reaches up to loosen his tie and run his fingers through his hair. I wish I could do that for him, run my fingers through his head of luxurious-looking black hair. He seems troubled, as if he is battling internally with himself. I detect a play of emotion across his features and they disappear quickly. How does he do that? How does he give a slight sliver of emotion and return to cool and emotionless so quickly? It makes it difficult to read him. What is he thinking right now?
I begin to bite my lower lip again and his gaze lands on my lips. I stop biting immediately and my tongue darts out to moisten my lips. His eyes follow my tongue’s movement. I swallow hard, feel
ing too hot all of a sudden. He steps toward me and I take a step back, the back of my legs hitting against his desk. I can go no further. My nervous lip-biting resumes. “Don’t do that, Navia,” he whispers, reaching out to cup my chin with long fingers. He smoothens a finger over my lower lip and I forget to continue breathing. “It’s very tempting to kiss you when you do that.”
My eyes widen. I don’t have much experience, but I am pretty sure this is not typical employer-employee behavior. I am speechless, my mind in turmoil. Should I speak out and tell him this is not appropriate, or say and do nothing, to see how far he goes? The devil on the left side of my shoulder tells me to do the latter. “Do you have any idea why I called you in here, Navia?”
I swallow hard. “N-Not the slightest idea,” I breathe out.
His lips curl, “Your innocence is refreshing. Are you really as innocent as you seem?”
“Well, I’m not exactly sure what you mean. Innocent in what way?” I watch as he peels off his jacket and throws it onto a chair. I follow his every movement, noticing how graceful and powerful each movement is. He is still standing very close, and I find it difficult to think straight.
“I have wanted to do something since I locked eyes with you on Saturday.” His gaze lowers to my mouth. “Your full lips are very tantalizing, just like the rest of you.”
I gawk up at him. I am in shock over his statement. He finds me tantalizing? I find it hard to believe that a man like Jason Black finds me attractive. “Err… I-I—,” my words refuse to come out properly. His lips twitch as if he is enjoying my discomfort. He lowers his head to mine, and his lips hover mere centimeters above mine. My breathing quickens. I want to pinch myself. This is playing out just like one of the dreams I had about him. Maybe this isn’t real. He doesn’t kiss me but continues to watch me intently.
“Would you like me to kiss you, Navia?” he enquires. Hell yes! I shout in my mind. But the words can’t pass my lips. I nod. “Answer me properly,” he demands. “I want to hear you say it.”
“I— yes,” I pant.
“Yes, what?”
I want so badly to feel his lips on mine. I ache for it. “I want you to kiss me.”
“Next time make sure you say ‘please.’”
There’s going to be a next time? Before I can analyze his statement any further, I draw in a breath as his lips capture mine. His mouth moves gently, urging my lips to move to part. I love the smooth, warm feel of his mouth, and my lips soon part to allow him entrance into my mouth. His gentle movements soon become more rough and urgent. He cups my face and forces my head back, causing me to moan in shock and delight. I moan as he ravishes my mouth. He pulls away to whisper, “You taste just as good as I thought you would.” He tastes just as good as I thought he would, as well, and his lips are just as soft. But I say nothing. What am I supposed to say? That I loved it and I want him to kiss me again? My fingers move to touch swollen lips ravaged by his passionate kiss. “Do you want more, Navia?” he asks.
My eyes fly up to meet his, “More kissing?”
A wicked grin forms on his lips, and I frown. “I guess you really are that innocent,” he says lowly. His grin turns into a grimace and he takes several steps back. He closes his eyes and whispers, “I shouldn’t do this. I should send you home, leave you the hell alone.”
Alarm rises in me. “Send me home? No, please don’t. I really need this job.”
He frowns, “It’s not about the damn job, Navia.”
I am immensely relieved, but still confused. “Oh, then what is it about?”
He rushes forward. “To hell with it, I can’t resist,” he growls.
Chapter Four
I gasp just as he reaches me. I have no time to protest before he engages me in a forceful kiss. He lifts me and places me on his desk. My bottom lands on the hard surface with a soft thud. I pull my face away, “Mr. Black, what—”
“Quiet,” he commands. My mouth immediately clamps shut at his rough tone. He steps between my legs and forces my thighs open.
“Wait, this isn’t right,” I whisper, with anxiety forming in my chest.
“I don’t care about what is right at the moment,” he mutters. He slips his hand beneath my hiked-up dress and I hear the material of my panty being ripped. I gasp, my mouth dropping open. I watch in stunned silence as he swiftly unzips his pants and sheaths himself with a condom. He pulls my bottom to the edge of the desk. “Mr. Black— Aahh!” I let out a shriek when he pushes into my tight passage without warning. The pain that shoots through me quickly turns to pleasure. I still can’t quite believe that I am having sex with my temporary boss in his office on his desk. How did it come to this? What am I thinking? I should have stopped him. Even though it has already gone far, I should still put a stop to this and walk away. I sense that I am getting in way over my head with this man.
The problem is I can’t bring myself to stop him, because he feels so good inside of me. I moan when he slams into me again. He shows no sign of slowing down or gentleness. His hips move relentlessly. He grips the nape of my neck tightly and pulls me into a violent kiss. I moan into his mouth at the roughness of his lips and the urgent movement of his hips. I try to push against his chest to get him to slow down, but my attempts are futile. It seems he does not even realize my hands are on him. The pressure in my core begins to build and my orgasm tears violently through me. I let out a scream, not recognizing the strangled sound of my own voice.
He moans his release moment later and pulls away from me. I feel cold and empty at his absence. It is not only his physical absence but also his mental absence. His demeanor is without emotion. I watch, unable to move, my breaths coming out in short puffs, as he pulls the condom filled with his seed off and drops it in the garbage can. “Get yourself cleaned up,” he says gruffly. That’s it? That is all he has to say? I close my eyes briefly as hurt washes over me. What was I expecting? He just has an itch to scratch; the sex meant absolutely nothing to him. I hop off the desk and straighten my dress. I say nothing. I’m much too humiliated to utter a word. My cheeks flame and tears threaten to drop. I walk out of his office, carrying the remainder of my shattered dignity. I walk unseeing to my desk to gather my belongings. I don’t think I can come back here tomorrow. There is no way I can face Jason Black after today. What am I going to tell Chloe when she calls? I groan; I didn’t even think about what she would say or how she would feel.
I make a decision: I am definitely not going to mention any of this to her. That means I have to return the next day. What explanation will I have to give her if I don’t? I sigh. So much for staying out of the boss’s way and out of trouble. I am heading out the door when I hear him, “Let me take you home.” I stiffen. Is he for real? He treats me abominably and now he is offering to take me home. I don’t turn around. I can’t face him.
“It’s OK, no thank you.” I place my hand on the knob and pull the door open. I gasp when he appears behind me and pushes the door shut with one hand. I feel the heat radiating off his body onto my back. If I turn around, he will be right in my face.
“It’s late, I should take you home.”
“It’s not that late. I’m a big girl.”
“Are you going to turn around and look at me?”
I draw in a deep breath and slowly turn around. I stare at his chest, still unable to meet his gaze. He lifts my chin with his fingers and forces me to look at him. “Will you be back tomorrow?”
My lashes lower. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
He tilts his head to the side and studies me closely, his forehead creasing as he frowns. I want to reach up and smooth out the frown lines. I am immediately disgusted with myself. Why do I still want to touch the man? Why do I even care if he is unhappy? I need serious help, like from a therapist. He drops his hand from the door and steps back. He gives a brusque nod, “I will see you tomorrow then.” I turn and open the door. I walk away without a backward glance. Once in the elevator, I sag against the wall and clutch my chest.
I take several deep breaths. I hope I don’t start hyperventilating. I find myself shaking uncontrollably. I ask myself over and over what just took place in Jason Black’s office. I’m still in denial, but the soreness between my thighs lets me know the entire thing was real.
What got into me? I have never done anything like that before. I have slept with exactly one man in all of my twenty-four years, and the sex was nothing compared to the sex I just had with Jason Black. I cover my face with my hands. I think I might even like Jason’s brusqueness. No, no I shouldn’t. I should hate his guts. What he just did was take advantage of me and then treat me terribly afterwards on top of it. I hate him. But my body still craves his touch. I wonder if sex with him will ever happen again. A depraved part of me hopes it will. I groan into the silence of the elevator. What am I going to do? I have four more days to work with the man.
The elevator doors slide open and I step out and numbly make my way outside. I manage to throw the security guard a tight smile. He nods and smiles, then returns to reading his paper. I take a breath as the light breeze cools my heated skin. I just want to get home and curl up in bed. I need to prepare myself mentally for facing Jason Black again the next day.
*
I sit up in bed with my arms wrapped around my raised knees. I glance at the time. It’s after eight. My mind is in such turmoil, I can’t even focus on tonight’s episode of Dancing with the Stars. I stare aimlessly at the television, not able to take in anything that is going on. My mind is occupied with thoughts of Jason Black. I think about how much I hate him right now. Heated thoughts about the feel of his lips against mine and the feel of him filling me creep into my mind. I close my eyes as if he is actually here caressing me. Desire starts to pool inside of me at the memory of him between my thighs. I clamp them together and will him out of my mind.