by Mary Suzanne
"I need you.” Mitch tried not to sound pleading, but he could hear his quivering voice filling the room. He felt on fire at her touch.
"Make love to me,” Sasha begged, pushing her body to his, feeling the fire as their bodies melded.
He didn't need additional encouragement. His mouth moved slowly down her creamy stomach, until reaching her thighs, spread and waiting for his invasion. When his tongue found her silky folds, he felt her writhing, excited movements. His tongue entered her, exploring, tasting, preparing her for his hardening shaft.
Moving away from her clit, he made the journey up her body, touching and kissing every part. When he reached her breasts, he savored them, licking and nibbling on their sweetness. His next stop was her lips, open with desire and waiting for his capture. For a time, he held her mouth captive beneath his.
Sasha melted to his caresses, but wanted to give him the same pleasure he’d given her. She slipped from his arms and slinked across his chest toward his flat stomach. He shuddered as her moist, pink tongue traced its way along his warm flesh, finding new territory in her quest to pleasure him. Her lips found his cock and slowly glided across it, making him shudder. She continued her journey across his hard length until she felt his body shaking uncontrollably. Traveling to new territory, she kissed his inner thighs before moving slowly again toward his stomach.
Her tongue created magical sensations for Mitch. He was on fire for her and was feverish with his desire to possess her. His strong arms enfolded her, drawing her into the shelter of his body.
His hand spread her thighs, running his fingertips across her wetness before mounting her. He fought his lustful urges; he didn't want their lovemaking rushed. His need for her was so great, he found himself possessing her with a wildness that startled him. To his delight, her body moved with the same rhythm.
Mitch slowed his thrusts, driving deeply into her, feeling her tightness and wanting her to enjoy it as much as he was. Capturing her hard nipple between his lips he loved the sweet taste. When his mouth slowly moved to her ear, he blew his warm breath against her earlobe, feeling her quiver in response.
He took her lips again, covered them and ran his tongue inside her mouth. Her tongue met his right before the climactic eruption quaked through her body. Mitch couldn't hold on any longer. His pent-up release spewed into her. He continued to rain kisses across her neck, face and lips. His hand didn’t stop the caresses as they both lay back, spent from their heated lovemaking. Eventually, he felt her cuddling close in his arms and still neither said a word; their closeness was enough. It wasn’t long before Sasha felt her eyelids grow heavy and close. She drifted off to sleep moments later.
Something woke her in the hours before dawn; it was Mitch's warm body snuggled close to hers. She wrapped her robe around her and walked from the bedroom.
She paced the living room; she’d made a promise not to fall under Mitch's spell, but her love for him had her changing her mind.
Her head was filled with thoughts of Mitch, and Cynthia, sleeping together. If only she could take last night back, but did she really want to? No, I love him too much.
She stopped pacing and peeked around her bedroom door. He was still sleeping soundly. Even with all her recriminations, she still made her way across the room and crawled beneath the cover next to him. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep, cuddled next to his warmth.
The following morning she walked quietly from the room. She stepped from the shower and pulled on the thin negligee she’d carried with her just as the telephone rang. "Yes,” she answered softly. "No, I can't go today."
After hanging up, she turned and saw Mitch, already dressed and standing near the fireplace watching her. She felt a flush of embarrassment brighten her cheeks over the thin negligee barely covering the outline of her shapely figure. Even after a night of passion, she still felt uncomfortable over the way his eyes devoured her. Her hands automatically rose to cover her body.
"Who was on the phone?” he asked, his eyelids narrowing suspiciously.
"Joe Fields,” she threw over her shoulder as she made a mad dash to the bedroom to find her robe. Joe wanted her to spend the day with him, but she’d refused.
Before she had the chance to walk back into the living room, Mitch blocked her path. "What did he want?"
"He invited me out today.”
Mitch’s eyes blazed and his jaw clenched, "Go out with Joe and any other guy who happens to ask you!” He stormed out the door slamming it shut.
When Mitch walked the short distance to his apartment, his temper still hadn't cooled down. Damn her! How could she make love to me, respond the way she did and then accept a date the next day? Jealousy ate away at him and he didn't know how to control it.
He had no right to tell her what to do and he knew it. He slowly concluded that all she felt for him was desire. It ate away at him, thinking of her giving herself to another man the way she’d surrendered to him. There weren’t any promises made between them, only their desire for one another.
* * * * *
Mitch hadn't given her a chance to tell him she'd refused Joe's offer. His cold attitude toward her, after their night of making love, brought tears to her eyes. She began to cry and the tears wouldn't stop. He didn’t want her seeing anyone else, but he’d never told her he loved her, not even while making love. Sasha made her way into her bedroom and lay down on the same pillow Mitch had used the night before.
She turned her head into the cloth and smelled his after-shave clinging to the soft material. She breathed the scent in deeply. She clutched the pillow and fell into an exhausted sleep.
*****
On Monday morning, she stepped on the elevator and Mitch got in close behind her. He moved to the back and stood next to her. "Good morning,” he mumbled, his countenance far from friendly.
"Good morning,” Sasha hid the hurt behind a forced smile.
Mitch felt his stomach knot at the way she looked at him. He’d never met another woman like her and he couldn't begin to figure out her moods. One moment she melted in his arms, and the next she would hold him at arms’ length. That didn't stop the desire burning a trail through every fiber of his body.
When the door opened, Sasha walked from the elevator without a backward glance. Mitch couldn’t stop his gaze from following her as her steps quickened. Whatever was on her mind, she wasn’t about to discuss it with him.
Mark was at his desk when she entered the office. "Good morning, Sasha,” he glanced up from his work.
She threw her purse in her desk drawer and slammed it shut. "I'm certainly happy that someone's in a good mood today."
Mark sat up and pushed his chair back, giving himself a safe distance between them. "What's wrong?”
"Nothing that I can't handle.” Sasha didn't feel like discussing what had taken place between her and Mitch; some things were too private. "Do you have any work for me?"
"There's always work. Try and make a story out of these notes."
"I'll do what I can.” Her shoulder was lightly touching Mark's when the door to the office flew open and Sasha looked up in surprise.
Mitch stood outlined in the doorframe. She noticed the scowl lining his face as his eyes traveled to her hand on Mark’s shoulder. A strained silence filled the room.
"Can I help you with something?” Mark asked.
"I want the notes on the Johnson story.” Mitch’s brooding stare followed Sasha as she walked to her desk. His gaze lingered on her until she sat.
Mark rummaged through his private files and pulled out a manila folder from the stack. "Here they are."
"Thanks. I'll see the two of you later at the staff meeting.” Without another word, he turned and left.
"What staff meeting is he talking about?"
"I forgot to mention it; all the reporters meet once a month and go over any controversial stories before we print them.”
"Oh, I didn't know,” she murmured, her thoughts returning to the story she'd written and the pending l
awsuit against the paper. While she worked, Sasha refused to think about the meeting that afternoon.
They sat at the table in the conference room, Sasha nervously drumming her pencil on the glossy mahogany surface. “I've had a funny feeling about this meeting all morning.”
"We have these meeting’s all the time,” Mark gave her a quizzical look. "You can expect them at least once a month. Don’t worry so much; it’ll give you gray hair.”
Silence fell over the room when Mitch walked through the door. Sasha looked down and made her notepad her sole interest.
"We have several issues to discuss today,” Mitch quickly made eye contact with everyone except Sasha, “so I want all of you to pay close attention. We’ll discuss a few stories we want to run on weekly intervals.”
Sasha only half listened as he read off the articles that were in question. She glanced up to find Mitch's alert stare trained on her. Her gaze met his and memories of how they'd made passionate love played like a motion picture through her brain. She pictured him standing there as he had in the bedroom that night, tanned and muscular just before he began his passionate foreplay. Quickly lowering her head, she tried hiding her private thoughts from him.
Mitch's next announcement startled her. "I want to mention this, but it isn’t open to discussion. In case any rumor reaches you, someone filed a lawsuit against the newspaper over an article. Our attorney and the Board of Directors will take care of the issue. I’m only mentioning this to let everyone know that there is an action pending and not to listen to any rumors. We’ll provide a statement and press release when we are advised to by our attorney”
Mitch continued to talk, but Sasha didn't hear all of his words. Her heart felt too heavy knowing she'd been the cause of the problems the newspaper was having. My source was reliable, I know it!
Eventually, she brought her thoughts back to the present and listened to Mitch answering questions from a few of the reporters about other issues at the newspaper. Laughter occasionally filled the room over something someone said. Sasha only wished she could feel the same lighthearted sensation as the group seated at the table.
If I hadn’t been so impulsive and thought I could write the story without any help, then none of this would be happening. Again, her thoughts revolved around the outcome. All the workers, as well as her dad stood to lose if the newspaper lost the lawsuit.
The shuffling of papers and the creaking of chairs brought her attention back to the group. She saw several people gathering their material and getting ready to leave. She hadn’t heard, or noticed, Mitch had ended the meeting.
Sasha walked with Mark to the door. She felt Mitch's presence before she saw him.
He stopped her with his hand on her arm. "I need to talk to you.”
When they were alone he closed the door. "You’re not to worry about the lawsuit. We have our best attorney on the case.”
“I’m happy to hear that.”
He reached for a notebook on the desk and bumped his hand that had the stitches.
She didn’t miss the pain which crossed his face. "Did you hurt your hand again?" She reached out and gently touched the scar. Her gaze slowly rose to his and the smoldering light from his eyes had her holding her breath.
"No,” his mouth moved to within inches of hers. To her disappointment, he pulled back and walked to his desk. He began shuffling through a stack of papers.
By his actions, she knew it was time to return to work. Making her way to her office, she still felt anxious about the impending suit. The meeting and Mitch’s reassurances hadn’t helped much.
"What happened upstairs?" Mark asked.
"I don’t think he wants me worrying about the lawsuit.”
"Oh,” Mark said, his brow raising. "You can never figure out what's on his mind."
* * * * *
That evening the apartment felt too confining. Sasha paced from one room to another until she couldn't stand her own company any longer. She slipped on her jacket and walked to her car.
Sasha drove through the business district, stopping at a local convenience store to buy magazines and the local papers. Right on the front page, the rival paper in the city had printed a story about the lawsuit. Sasha crumpled up the paper and threw it in the trash.
When she reached her apartment the phone was ringing. Somehow, she hoped it would be Mitch, but to her surprise, she heard her dad’s voice on the other end. "I was going to drive out to see you, but I thought you might be gone.” Sasha paused, “I needed to talk to you about something."
"If it's about the lawsuit, don't worry yourself over it,” he reassured her. "The lawyer is taking care of things."
"Thanks, I appreciate you calling me,” Sasha said, with a sigh.
"That’s not the reason I’m calling,” he chuckled. “I'm calling to tell you my good news, I'm getting married."
“Really! Who's the lucky lady?" Sasha forgot her own problems hearing the happiness in his voice.
"My housekeeper, Brenda Jones, or should I say my former housekeeper,” he laughed, “I guess she’ll be hiring a housekeeper of her own. We both want you to be in the wedding next month."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world. I’m so happy for you.”
"I’ll be in touch to see how you’re getting along. If you need anything and can’t reach me at home, call my cell phone.”
“I will. Good night and congratulations.” At least someone is happy, she smiled as she replaced the receiver. She planned to forget her problems for the present and give her full attention to helping her dad plan his wedding.
*****
She hadn’t seen much of Mitch in the last few days and was surprised when she started to unlock her door and felt a hand touch her arm. She turned and gazed into the eyes of the subject of her thoughts.
"I wanted to invite you to dinner tonight.” His eyes took in her shocked expression.
"You do?"
"Yes," his eyes were wide, a hopeful look. "I'll be doing the cooking."
“Really?” Sasha cocked her head. “What time?" She knew she was inviting an intimate evening alone with him, but she couldn't help herself. All she could think of was being near him.
"Seven o'clock.” A grin lined his lips.
"Should I bring anything?”
"Just you,” he smiled. “I’ll make us a couple of steaks. You do like steaks, I hope?”
“Yes, I love them. OK, see you at seven.”
At six, Sasha stepped from the shower. She chose a silky black, two-piece slack suit to wear that evening. Sasha felt her stomach churning as she stood outside Mitch’s apartment. She waited for several minutes trying to control the racing of her heart. Eventually, she lifted her hand and tapped lightly.
As Mitch opened the door, his gaze traveled the length of her. He reached out and grasped her hand in his. "You're right on time. Have a seat and I'll get our wine."
Sasha moved to the couch. He filled two wine glasses and offered her one. "Thank you.” She accepted the dark red liquid.
"I'll be right back." He placed his drink on the coffee table and walked into the kitchen. "Everything's under control,” he called out to her. "We should be eating a succulent steak very soon."
"I didn't know you could cook.” To Sasha, he didn’t seem the type to spend time in the kitchen.
"I've cooked for years,” he said, reentering the room. He walked to the stereo and soon a soft ballad filled the room.
Sasha glanced around the room noting how he'd turned out most of the lights. The soft music, the dim lighting, the wine, all held all the overtones of a romantic evening. She wondered how many women he entertained in his apartment. Just thinking these thoughts brought a pain racing through her heart.
She looked up when Mitch suddenly appeared by her side. "Let’s take our drinks to the kitchen? I have to make sure the food doesn’t burn."
Sasha nodded and followed him down the narrow hallway. She glanced into the dining room. The table was set with a white cloth an
d two long candles. In the center, Mitch had an arrangement of flowers. Reaching the kitchen, he opened the oven door and the delicious aroma drifted out to Sasha.
"Do you need any help?”
"No, but you can watch and tell me if I'm doing anything wrong,” he laughed easily.
"It's usually the other way around," she responded.
A twinkling light danced in his dark eyes. "Sometimes it is."
As he worked on a salad, she noted his deft movements. "You look right at home in a kitchen.”
"I come from a big family. My parents taught us early to do for ourselves."
"How many are in your family?"
"I have three brothers and three sisters, not including me."
"You do have a big family."
"Yes, and there are times when we fight like cats and dogs." He grinned at her. "Just like me and you. The steaks look as if they're almost done."
True to his word, within fifteen minutes they sat at the dining room table. While they ate, Mitch made small talk that kept Sasha entertained.
“Everything was so good,” she said when there was a break in the conversation.
"Thanks,” he said huskily, the sound sending shivers down her spine. "Let's take our glasses into the living room."
"We have to do the dishes.” Sasha said the first thing to pop into her head trying to break the seductive spell he was so adept at weaving over her.
"I’ll put them in the dishwasher later,” he gently urged her from the chair.
When they reached the living room and he handed her a drink, his fingers lightly touching hers. An electric spark shot through her arm at the contact.
"Thank you,” she murmured, sipping the drink slowly and placing the empty glass on the table.
"Sasha," the way he said her name made her shudder.
She glanced up in time to see his mouth moving toward hers. His dark eyes blazed with a fiery spark when he saw her head lift to accept his kiss. Sasha realized the situation could very well be a repeat of the last time they were together.