I raised my chin. “Actually, no. I think we established last night what kind of employer you were.”
His lips twitched.
“So, where’s this paperwork?”
He grinned.
“Thane?”
“Felicia gave me a present, just a few minutes ago.”
“I heard.”
“I opened it up. Do you know what I found?”
I grinned. “Actually, she told me. It’s quite fitting, now that I think about it.”
He grunted. “I don’t think it’s fitting at all. This little hairy piece of rubber that I’m supposed to stick my cock into and pretend I’m fucking? You call that fitting?”
The mention of him fucking something sent a hot jolt of electricity into my crotch. “I don’t know,” I whispered.
He stood up. “Look at this,” he said, motioning towards the bulge in his jeans. “I opened up that stupid thing and when I saw what it was, all I could think of was being inside of you.”
I stood up. “Thane, this isn’t appropriate. Remember, I’m just your employee and…”
He grabbed my hand and placed it on his crotch. “I need you, Sera. You don’t get it… I need to be inside of you. Now.”
My panties were now completely soaked. “I need you, too,” I replied in a husky voice, no longer caring about anything but him, pounding his cock into me.
He shoved his computer out of the way and then reached over, to pick me up. Setting me down on the desk, he reached under my skirt and touched my panties.
“You’re so wet,” he growled, pushing them aside. Then he slid two fingers inside of me and I gasped. “This is what I want, Sera. I want your sweet little pussy, not a stupid rubber toy.”
I unzipped his jeans and pulled him out, frantic to feel his full girth inside of me.
Panting, he leaned over me and spread my legs apart, his fingers rough against my skin. “You ready for me?”
“Yes,” I said, clenching my jaw. “Shove it in.”
“Touch yourself, first.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“Rub your clit for me, baby.”
I leaned back on my elbow and with my right hand, began rubbing the hard, slippery nub.
“Oh, fuck yeah,” he groaned and then plunged deep inside of me.
I cried out and his mouth crashed against mine as he held my hips and hammered in and out of my hole.
“Sera,” he growled, his mouth now on my neck. “Keep touching yourself.”
I’d stopped, so preoccupied with his pumping and the cool marble under my cheeks as I rocked back and forth with ever thrust. Knowing that he was turned on by watching me masturbate, I began rubbing myself again.
“Yes,” he whispered. He reached down and began helping me. Soon, it all became too much and I went over the edge, digging my nails into his hips and convulsing against him as I rode the wave over and then back down.
Staring into my eyes, he picked up speed, our bodies smacking together as his hips moved back and forth, faster and faster.
“Look at me,” he demanded, holding the back of my head when I closed my eyes for a brief second.
I did and his bronze eyes burned into mine, holding me.
“I… can’t… let… you… go…,” he said, thrusting hard with each word. “I need you, Sera.”
“Thane,” I moaned. “I need you, too.”
He gasped and shuddered against me, filling me with his seed. I closed my eyes and felt his lips on my cheeks and then on my mouth. It was gentle and loving, taking me by surprise. I was suddenly overwhelmed by emotion and had to blink back tears.
Someone began knocking on the door.
“We’re having a meeting in here,” said Thane, pulling out of me. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Okay,” hollered back Sinclair.
Thane touched just below my lower lashes, wiping away a tear. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, pulling my skirt over my thighs “Yes. Fine.”
He grabbed some Kleenexes from a nearby bookshelf. “Here. In case you need to clean the mess I made.”
From the look on his face, I knew that it was a joke, but I didn’t smile. I couldn’t, because deep down, I knew that things hadn’t really changed. Both of us had just gotten caught up in the heat of the moment again.
I ignored the tissue. “I’ll clean myself in the bathroom.”
“Are you still mad?” he asked, staring at me in shock.
“I’m mad at myself. For doing this here. At work. Besides, I thought we agreed to not do this anymore.”
“You have to admit, it was pretty hot though, wasn’t it?”
“What do you want from me?” I asked, climbing off of his desk.
“I want this,” he said. “I want to be with you. What do you think I want?’
“But, in your terms, still.”
He smiled humorlessly. “My terms? I just don’t want everyone to know about us, Sera. Not now, at least.”
“Then when?”
“Soon. Look, there will be a time when I’ll tell everyone.”
“Like during a meeting?” I said dryly.
He laughed. “Yeah, maybe.”
I began walking towards the doorway. “Okay, well then when you get the balls to do that, let me know. Otherwise, I’m not doing this with you again. Not here or anywhere.”
“You’re being unreasonable,” he said. “Look at how much fun we just had. I mean seriously, I didn’t plan on that. But, it was mind-blowing. I’m getting hard again just thinking about it.”
“Have fun with your new toy then,” I replied dryly and then walked out of his office.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sera
Later that day, Fred called to tell me that they still hadn’t found anything new.
“What about Ray? How long will he be in custody?” I asked.
“He’s already out.”
My eyes widened. “What?’
“They couldn’t hold him for Sam’s disappearance and a friend of his bailed him out. From what I know, he’s headed back to Wisconsin.”
“Crap.”
“The good news is, he can’t drive.”
“Like that’s going to stop him.”
“It might. For a while, at least.”
I rubbed my forehead. “Unbelievable.”
“I know.”
“When are you coming back?” I asked.
“In a couple of days. How is Emma?”
“She’s fine. Keeps asking for you.”
“She’s a good little girl.”
“She really is.”
“Well, like I said, I’ll be returning home soon. If you need anything, just call me.”
I suddenly had a flash of Sam and water again. This time, the image was much more clear. I also sensed something new.
“Fred, did you check Dally’s Dockside?”
“The marina? It’s been closed down for quite some time now.”
“Exactly,” I said.
“We were going to do that eventually, I guess. Why? You think there might be something there?”
“I suggest you look under the docks. You might find…someone.”
He was silent for a few seconds. “You think Sam might really be at the marina?”
I sighed. “It’s possible.”
He swore. “Okay. I’ll let you know what I find out. Guess we’ll have to check that out today and not tomorrow.”
“I would.”
“I’ll call you tonight.”
“Okay.”
****
Sera
I managed to avoid Thane for the rest of the day. As I was leaving, however, he followed me out of the shop, to the parking lot.
“Sera, hold on,” he said, catching up to me.
“What do you want?” I asked stiffly.
He sighed. “I just want to apologize. I’ve been a real asshole.”
“You think?”
He smiled. “I deserve that
.”
“You do.”
His smile fell. “Last night and today… it was… intoxicating. I still can’t stop thinking about it. But, like I said before, I don’t want to mix business and pleasure… which is why I was wondering if you’d be interested in leaving Tangled?”
My jaw dropped. “What?”
“I would help you find a different salon.”
“You want me to leave?”
“Only so that we could be together, like we were last night and today.”
“You want me to leave Tangled so you can fuck me without feeling guilty? Is that what you’re saying?”
His smile fell. “You make it sound dirty. I’m just trying to do the respectable thing.”
I raised my hand. “Okay, enough is enough. I’m not interested.”
He scowled. “You’re serious? You’re not even interested in hearing more?”
“No.” I sighed. “Look, I appreciate the fact that you don’t want to screw around with someone that you work with. I get that. But, I guess now that I think about it, I just don’t want to pick-up and start over again. I’m tired of running, Thane. I’ve been doing it for the last year and a half. Now, you’re asking me to drop everything and run to another salon, just for sex? Really?”
“Yes, but really good sex,” he joked. “Come on, Sera.”
I smiled coldly. “I’m not interested in doing that. I’m not interested in fighting with you about it anymore either. So, I’m cutting it off. I like this salon and want to continue working for you, but that’s it. No more sex. Not at the salon and not at home.”
He stared at me in disbelief. “You’re sure about this?”
“As sure as I’m basically a fugitive anyway. Running with my child. You don’t need that either. So, let’s keep it platonic. Nobody will ever need to know that we’ve been together.”
He stared at me silently for a while and then looked away. “Okay. If that’s what you really want,” he said, his voice stiff.
“It is.”
He let out a long, ragged sigh and then tried to smile. “We’ll still be friends?”
“Yes. But, I think we should limit our friendship to just the shop. No more dinners.”
He nodded. “Okay. Just do me a favor. If you change your mind, let me know. I’m going to back off, because it’s what you want, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to be thinking of you.”
Before I could respond, he got into his car and drove away.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Sera
Fred called me as I drove home to meet Emma at the bus stop.
“Sera. We found him under a dock,” he said, sounding distraught. His voice cracked. “You were right. He’s dead.”
“I’m so sorry, Fred,” I said, as tears filled my eyes. Deep down I knew that they would find him, but I had hoped to be wrong.
“That bastard used kettle weights to keep him from floating away,” he went on. “And… fishing line.”
I pulled into the driveway, thankful to be home as I heard such horrific news. “Oh, Fred.”
He sighed. “At least there is closure and I know he’s not being held somewhere, being tortured or dying of starvation.”
I brushed the tears from my cheeks. “At least there’s that.”
“Gonna have him cremated. Just like he wanted. Then spread his ashes near Lake Tahoe.”
“Lake Tahoe?”
He didn’t say anything for a few seconds, but I could tell he was crying and trying to regain his composer. “Yep,” his said, huskily. “He always wanted to go there. I think it’s only right that he gets to.”
An image of Sam popped into my head and he was smiling. I wondered if it was a memory or something more. I grabbed a Kleenex from my purse and wiped my face. “You know, I think he’d like that.”
“I hope so… Jesus, Sera, I still can’t believe it. I had a feeling he was gone, but now that I know for sure, it’s hard.”
“I know, Fred.”
“Yes, you off all people would.”
I closed my eyes and another image emerged. This time, of my mother and Sam. They were glowing and happy… and they were together. “At least they’re finally reunited,” I told Fred. “Mom and Sam. They really did love each other, you know.”
A sob escaped Fred. “I know. He told me. I’m sorry, Sera.”
“Don’t apologize for loving your brother, Fred. A real man has emotions and can own up to them, you know.”
He laughed. “Where have I heard that before?”
I smiled. “I heard you on the phone with Sam, once. Talking about my mother.”
“I remember. He was blubbering. Just like his older brother is now.”
I laughed. “Oh, Fred. He loved you so much. You know that, don’t you?”
“I loved him, too.”
We were quiet for a while.
“So, can they pin this on Ray?” I asked.
“They’re trying, although, I don’t know what kind of evidence they’re going to find. He’s been under the water for a couple of days now.” He sucked in his breath. “Say, you aren’t getting any kind of psychic feelings about where we might be able to locate Sam’s phone? Or that fishing twine that was used.”
“No. I’m sorry. I’m not getting anything like that at all. I am feeling that Sam is at peace, though. I just want you to know.”
“At least there is that. I’ve got to get going. I’ll be home soon, I guess.”
“Okay, Fred. Take care and call me.”
“I will. Give my love to Emma. I’ll call Arlene later.”
“Definitely.”
***
Fred returned three days later, and I met him at the airport with Arlene and Emma.
He looked over our heads. “Where’s Thane?”
“His office is being remodeled today,” I said. “He was going to take a couple of days off while they did it. I think he might be at his father’s place. Felicia mentioned something about it.”
“He didn’t tell you himself?”
We’d actually been avoiding each other. I forced a smile. “I’ve been so busy and we keep missing each other.”
“I guess I should have called him. To thank him for keeping an eye on you.”
“I already thanked him plenty,” I said, under my breath.
We walked through the terminal and picked up his luggage.
“So, do you have Sam’s ashes?” I asked, nodding towards his suitcase.
“Not yet. I won’t get the ashes until they are completely done with the autopsy. Dooly is going to call me and I’ll fly back out there when the examination is over.” He smiled at all of us sadly. “I just needed to come home. I missed my family.”
“We missed you, too, Papa Fred,” said Emma, grabbing his hand.
He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. “I think I missed you most of all. In fact, I brought you something.”
“What?”
He unlocked his suitcase and pulled out a small, stuffed Golden Retriever puppy. “Thought you should finally get that puppy you’ve been pining for.”
Her eyes lit up. She grabbed the stuffed animal and hugged it. “Thank you so much. I love it!”
Fred patted her on the head. “You’re very welcome.”
“Where’s my puppy?” asked Arlene.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “I’ve got something special for you, too. You’re going to have to wait until we get home, though.”
Arlene blushed and I couldn’t help but smile.
We drove home, mostly in silence. Fred stared out the window and I could tell he was thinking of his brother. Arlene and Emma did most of the talking and I listened as they planned another day of baking. This time for Fred.
After we walked through the front door, Emma ran to her bedroom, to introduce her new stuffed puppy to her other toys. I followed Fred into the kitchen with Arlene, for coffee.
“So, nothing on Ray?” she asked, setting her purse down on the kitchen counter.
<
br /> “No. But, I heard that he’s checked himself into some kind of treatment center. Apparently, he’s going to spend three months there,” said Fred.
I stared at him in shock. “You’re serious?”
He smirked. “Yep. I don’t know what kind of game he is playing, but I got people watching him. Very closely. He makes any wrong moves, and they’ll be all over him like flies on shit.”
“He knows that,” I said, staring blindly towards the refrigerator. I turned to Fred. “That’s why he’s in treatment. To throw people off. He wants to look like he’s a reasonable person and not a murderer.”
Fred grunted. “I figured it was something like that.”
“I just pray they can find some evidence linking him to Sam’s death,” said Arlene, turning on the Keurig.
“Me, too,” he said, sitting down at the table. He folded his hands in front of him and sighed. “Me, too.”
*****
Two weeks later, we drove to Lake Tahoe, with Fred, to scatter Sam’s ashes in a secluded spot, near the lake. One that Fred had scouted out the week before. We were joined by Thane and his father, Mike, so they could also pay their respects. Thane and I kept our distance and acted civil, but there was definitely a tension in the air between us.
After we were finished, we decided to have lunch at a steakhouse at the edge of town.
“So, you’re the woman Thane’s been gnawing my ear about,” said Mike, taking a swig of his beer. He was the splitting image of Thane, only thirty years older and a full-fledged beer belly.
I looked at Thane , who was sitting in the chair next to me. The expression on his face was of confusion.
Mike snorted. “Don’t give me that look, Mister. You know you have.”
“Don’t listen to him,” said Thane, smiling at me humorlessly. “He’s getting senile in his old age.”
His father chuckled. “Look who’s talking. You probably don’t remember telling me about her psychic abilities or how you used to give her grief about them.”
“He certainly did,” I said, and then smirked. “Until I read his mind and freaked the heck out of him.”
“Is that right?” asked Mike, looking impressed.
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