by Annie Stone
He grins and kisses me, and as he pulls out, I whimper.
He kisses me again. “I know, babe, I’d like to stay in there forever.”
He pulls off the condom before he wraps me in his arms and kisses my neck.
We spend the rest of the day in bed. I leave early for work Monday morning. I spend my time daydreaming about him. His dark hair, dark eyes, muscles, and tattoos. I find myself questioning what this really is. He said it felt different with me. What did he mean? Does he want more or was it just a one-night stand (or a many-night stand to be more accurate) for him?
And what do I want? One thing I know is I’ve never felt that good with anyone. I’ve had my share of men but don’t think I was in love with any of them. Could I have fallen in love with Matt after such a short time? No, I think to myself but it feels like it could turn into love. Whatever it is, I have more feelings for him than for any other man I’ve ever known.
I don’t even want to define it. It doesn’t have to be labelled, but I’d like to know where I stand. Does he like me? Could it be love for him at some point or is he going to lose interest two weeks down the line, want nothing more to do with me, and give me the cold shoulder? Is it too early for this? Too late? Should we have talked about our expectations at the beginning? Shouldn’t he announce what he wants from me? Should I have done so? Do I know what I want?
I’m absently chewing on my pencil and ruminating when my assistant, Ashley, comes into my office.
“Thea, Mr. Arnold wants to see you in his office right away.”
Fuck! Does he know how unproductive I’ve been today? I pat down my skirt and set off for the upper story. His assistant waves me through, and I knock at the milky glass door.
“Enter,” he barks. His bark doesn’t necessarily mean he’s in a bad mood, but under the circumstances, all I can wonder is what the hell I’ve done wrong.
“Ah Ms. Bennett,” he smiles at me. I don’t bother telling him he can call me Thea. He knows it, but chooses not to. This might be a sign.
“Please take a seat.”
“Thank you, Mr. Arnold.” I try to look as relaxed as possible, but I’m sure he sees right through my façade.
“Ms. Bennett, as you probably know, Mr. Reinders will be retiring in six months, so we’ll be looking for a new technical director.”
I sit up a little straighter. Perhaps I haven’t done anything wrong after all.
“Even though you’ve only been with us for two years, you’ve established a good reputation. You’re productive, knowledgeable, and you’ve proven yourself to be able to cope with what you’ve been given. I’m disposed to give you a chance.”
All good so far.
“However…” Here we go...here comes the but. “However, there are two other candidates for the post.”
Who the hell are they? I’m Reinders second in command, who could be better for the post?
“They both come from other branches and have been in managerial roles in their respective fields and are considered to be suitable for the post.”
Crap, crap, crap.
“Ms. Bennett, they’re both men.”
Yeah? So? I didn’t take this guy for a chauvinist.
I must’ve looked confused because he continues, “Everyone is impressed with your work, but they…we feel, that you might not be in the…hmm…right condition to fulfill the duties that come with the job..” He’s sweating and beet red. He’s obviously very uncomfortable.
I’m not sure if I do understand what he wants to tell me. “What are you saying, Mr Arnold? Right condition?”
“I can’t go into detail, Ms. Bennet. But as a matter of fact, both men have more experience than you do, not only in the practiced field, but also as leaders.”
I do feel like he’s not telling me everything. As if the more experience thing is only a made up reason. He avoids eye contact. “I do know that you are a hard worker, I know that you are well-liked by your colleagues and your superiors, but the board members feel that you are not the right fit.”
I can’t believe it. I work my ass off. I’ve done both my and Reinder’s job for the last two years, and now I’m going to be passed over because…? Because of what? My age? A possible pregnancy?
“Mr. Arnold, what can I do? There must be something.”
“I spoke in favor of you, but it was mostly in vain. Although, I could convince the board to set a type of test.”
Test? What’s he got in mind?
“All three of you will be closely observed, each in your respective department. After that, a decision will be made.”
I go to protest, but he holds up a hand.
“I know, you are wondering how accurate the results will be when the board observing appears to have already made a decision. As you know, the board is made up of eight men and two women. The two women who both want you could make the board see reason. So it’s not the full board that’s deciding, but a group of two men and two women.” That doesn’t sound too bad, does it?
“Ms. Bennett, you could be the first woman to hold such a position and your chances are good because of the outstanding work you do.” I get all warm und fuzzy hearing his praise.
“You have three months to show what you are made of and prove that you are the right candidate for the job. I believe in you, Ms. Bennett.”
I have a lump in my throat. I stand up and offer him my hand. “I won’t disappoint you, Mr. Arnold,” I say, and he smiles at me.
“I know, Ms. Bennett, I don’t worry about that.”
Technical Director. Technical Director! I float back to the office. Can I do it? Of course I can. This is the chance I’ve been waiting for. I can’t believe it. Two years in the job. Perhaps I had more opportunities than I thought. I call my therapist and schedule an appointment. As she is kind of a life coach for me, I need to tell her about all of my life-changers.
“I had hoped I wouldn’t see you again, Thea. It’s been six months since your last appointment,” she scolds.
“I know, Carmen, but my life’s going to change, and I have to speak to you.”
“Okay, okay, but the first available appointment isn’t until next Thursday, is that okay for you?”
I sigh. “Not really, but if it’s all you’ve got, I’ll take it.”
I work all afternoon and into the night like I’m possessed. I eat at my station, run through the building and sit for hours at my computer. As I finally leave, I notice it’s ten in the evening. Where has the time gone?
I’m the last one in the building. I take the elevator down to the underground car park, get into my blue Mini Cooper S and drive home.
When I get into the apartment, I collapse on a stool, put my purse on the table, push off my heels and lay my head on the table. Fourteen hours work…fuck me.
About ten minutes later, the front door opens, and I hear laughter and voices, but it goes quiet when they see me.
“Hey Thea, are you just getting home?” Tom asks.
“Hi,” is all I can manage. I slowly straighten. “Yeah.”
“Hey,” says Will. “You left the house so early.”
I sigh. “Yeah.”
“Is ‘yeah’ all you can say?”
“Yeah,” and I hear him laugh.
Will pours me a glass of white wine, and I smile gratefully at him as they join me around the table.
“Is eight in the morning to ten at night a normal work day?” Tom asks.
I shake my head. “Not usually, no. I’m normally out by six,” and I run my fingers through my hair. “But I’m kind of under observation for the next three months.”
Will’s eyebrows shoot up. “What have you done?”
I give him a dark look. “How come you think it was me who did something?”
He shrugs. “Just a feeling you mean trouble,” he winks, and I have to smile. He’s not wrong there.
“No, this time it’s something positive. The technical director’s position has become available but there are two others in the running
and we’re going to be tested for three months before a decision is made.”
“Oh yeah, Reinders’ retiring,” says Will, and I throw him a questioning look. “Well, I have to keep up with what’s going on with the competition,” he laughs.
“Anyhow, I want that job and that means putting the hours in.”
“How did you manage to leave the office at such a normal time? You can’t tell me Reinders did his own job,” says Will.
“I guess I’m good at what I do.” I shrug my shoulders. “If you’re efficient, you can do two jobs.”
Will scrutinizes me. “That’s what I thought,” and I’ve got no idea what that’s supposed to mean.
“Have you already eaten?” Tom asks. He’s seems to be the caretaker of the three of them.
My stomach growls its answer, and the boys laugh. I should be embarrassed, but I’m just too tired to care.
“That’s a ‘no’ then,” says Tom and goes to the fridge. He pulls out a few things and starts preparing something.
“Thea, do you want to go with Tom and me to football on Sunday?” asks Will. “You can have Matt’s ticket because he’s going on a business trip for a week on Thursday.”
I straighten slightly. Football? Pro football? “49ers?”
He nods.
“Serious?”
He grins at me. “Have we got ourselves a little fan?”
I clap with delight. “Cool! Thanks!” They laugh at my joyous reaction. Tom puts a plate in front of me. Brie and Gruyere sandwich with chips, veggie sticks, and cranberry sauce. I gape. Not bad.
“Seriously?” I ask, and he grins at me.
“I am never going to want to move out of here. Food, football, not to mention dancing…”
“Why would you even think about moving out when you’ve only just moved in?” asks Matt.
As I’ve just bitten off a huge chunk of sandwich, I can’t actually answer back. All I can manage is two thumbs up. As soon as I’ve swallowed, I look at Tom.
“Oh my God, Tom, that is so good!”
Matt pours me some more of the white, and I smile at him. He lays his hand on my leg and gives it a quick squeeze.
“Where’s the business meeting?” I ask.
“New York. I’ve got meetings Friday, Monday, and Wednesday, so it’s not worth coming back in between.”
“Yeah, of course,” and somehow I’m a bit sad that I won’t get to see him for a week.
He strokes my cheek. “It’s only a week, babe, and then I’m all yours.” He winks at me, and I swear something devilish flashes in his eyes.
I look at Tom and Will who are eying us knowingly. I blush and hear Matt’s stifled laughter. I shoot him an evil glare.
He lifts his hands in defense. “I was just choking, honest,” but he’s laughing again, and I’m not fooled for a minute. The little shit.
If the other two haven’t heard us the last two nights, they definitely know now that we’re having sex, and their reaction is interesting. Up until now it’s felt like both of them have been flirting with me so I was kind of expecting a bit of jealousy. But that isn’t happening at all; they seem to be totally cool with what we’re doing. I mean, at the end of the day, my body reacted to all three of them. If either of those two had approached me, I could have ended up in bed with one of them. I’m glad it’s Matt; he’s amazing. But then so are the other two.
Will is the geek star and we have a lot in common. I’m betting we’d never run out of things to say to each other. And Tom, he’s just Tom, charming, sexy, funny and always ready for a joke. And he can dance! I saw him with Sam, and he was hot. Which gets me wondering if he likes Sam. I sense a tiny prick of jealousy. Where’d that come from? I might have been able to have all three of them, but I have Matt and incredible sex with him, so why am I jealous about Tom and someone else?
My feelings at the moment are profoundly confused and down to these three men sitting round me, chatting about anything and everything and treat me like I’m a life-long friend.
“So Thea, do you think you’ll be able to make it home tomorrow at a more reasonable hour?” asks Tom.
I think for a moment. “Around seven?”
“Cool,” he says. “You can then prove that you actually fulfill your end of the bargain,” and I think back to our first conversation. He wants me to cook.
“Are you over fast food?” I joke.
“When it can be avoided, sweetie.”
Sweetie? Is he flirting with me? Even though he knows I’m sleeping with Matt? And why do I like him calling me ‘sweetie’? I must be completely out of my mind. I look at Matt and try to gauge his reaction but he’s completely relaxed and chatting with his friends and periodically touching me. Perhaps he didn’t notice?
“Okay, boys. I’m off to bed. I’ll be back at seven tomorrow evening, and I’ll cook us something. Any requests?” They all shake their heads.
“Hey, Thea, we should swap numbers,” says Tom.
“Sure.” I give him my cell. He enters his number and calls his own. Will and Matt do the same and I get my cell handed back.
I stack my plate and glass in the dishwasher, wish them all a good night, and go to my room. While I get ready for bed, I think about the conversation and how much I enjoyed it. They are funny, charming, intelligent. No moment with them is ever uncomfortable.
It feels like I have three new friends. Or, depending on how you look at it, two and a lover. I snuggle into my bed, switch off the light, and am asleep in three seconds flat.
A few moments later, I’m woken up again as someone lies down next to me. Matt pushes his hand under my t-shirt and starts to knead my breasts.
“Hey babe, wake up.” He kisses my neck. I turn to him, and our lips meet instantly. He kisses me softly and with feeling. His hands touch my face and my hair. His tongue massages mine. Suddenly he pulls away and my tongue follows into his mouth. I explore every inch, suck on his tongue, and nibble on his bottom lip. His taste turns me on so much that I intensify the kiss. I want more from him. He pushes my tongue back into my mouth and begins his tongue fuck that makes me wild. I feel myself get wet. I wrap my legs around him and pull him closer to me. His erection presses against my thigh. I lower my hand to his cock and hold him. He groans as I begin to pull the shaft up and down.
“More, babe.” I am strengthening my hold as I pump his length.
“Harder, babe.” I try to grasp it entirely, but his cock is so big that I have to grip with both hands.
“Yeah babe, just like that,” he groans, and I move my hands up and down while he sucks on my nipple and squeezes the other between his finger and thumb. His other hand is on its way down to my pussy. He strokes my lips slowly before he slips three fingers into me and begins to push against my g-spot. I arch against him, wanting more, but he pulls his fingers out. I’m disappointed, and he must have noticed because he kisses me on the lips.
“Don’t be sad, babe, something better’s going in.”
He rolls on a condom and with one swift move, he’s in me and begins to thrust. He pushes my legs up so that they rest on his shoulders and his thrusts become deeper and harder. I cry out with every thrust, and my body arches against him. My fingers curl into his shoulders, but he grabs them and pushes both hands above my head and back into the mattress. It’s dark in my room, and I can hardly see a thing, but I am caught in the intensity of his look. I can’t drag myself away from his eyes.
His rhythm becomes harder, and I feel like I’m about to burst in two. My body follows his and meets each thrust with the same passion.
“Push your pelvis up,” he orders, and I obey.
The change in position makes him go even deeper, and I cry out.
“Oh God, Matt! More! Harder!” I don’t know how these words are coming out of my mouth. I feel like bursting, I can’t take any more but hearing my screams, he goes harder. I feel his strength and see the strain in his face. His hands pin mine near my head, and I feel my knuckles begin to whiten. Our fin
gers are entwined in a firm grip. I struggle against him, trying to move. I want to touch him, but no matter how hard I try, it’s in vain. The more I struggle, the harder he rams into me, and I notice it’s a major turn on for him.
He bites my earlobe and murmurs into my ear, “Fight me, babe, try to get free.”
I gather my strength and try to escape his grip, and he grins as pearls of sweat run down his temples. I raise my head, so I am close to his, and bite his bottom lip. He groans with pleasure and bites my breast in retaliation. I feel his teeth sink into my flesh and cry, “Matt!” He won’t let me out of his vice-like grip. I want to bury my fingers in his hair and pull him closer to me.
His teeth release from one breast, and he moves to bite the other. I cry out and arch against him. I try to lock his head between my knees, but I don’t manage it. He’s too strong. His thrusts don’t change while we’re wrestling. He pushes his cock further and further and hammers me with all his strength. I am so turned on and love it when he fills me like this. I have never had this feeling, never had a cock like this. He’s a God. He sinks his lips into mine, and I want to bite him. He’s quicker and sinks his teeth into me, and in that moment, my orgasm rips through me. I cry out, my body jerks under his, and my pussy contracts around his cock. I arch away from the bed and throw my head back. Matt doesn’t stop pounding me and leaves my orgasm no choice but to continue, again and again, over and over. He doesn’t relent and fucks me until I’m almost dizzy. I come again and again until he finally finds his own release.
He pulls out immediately, removes the condom, and pushes his hand to my pussy. He cups me gently, brings me slowly down and calms the muscles.
“Matt,” I whisper.
“I’m here, babe,” and he kisses me softly on the lips.
“Wow,” I say, when I finally catch my breath.
“You said it.” He laughs quietly.
He pulls me to him, gives me a good night kiss, and we fall asleep.
CHAPTER FIVE
My alarm goes off at six thirty. Actually, normally at seven, then I have thirty minutes for a shower, ten minutes for breakfast, and fifteen minutes to get to work with a five-minute buffer in case I get caught at a red light or something. I hate getting up early, so I manage my time as ruthlessly as I can to stay in bed longer. It’s Matt who suggested setting the alarm half an hour early so we could have sex in the morning and who am I to stand in the way of a morning fuck?