by Jenna Reed
“I got myself into this mess and I’ll deal with whatever happens when we get to that bridge. I’m enjoying the sex between us and that is it.”
As if she can hear the hurt in my voice, Erin sighs. “I’m sorry. I just worry about you. You’re my best friend and I want you to be happy. If whatever is going on between you two makes you happy, then that’s all that matters.”
“I know. I want to be happy too, and right now, this is what makes me happy.” Panic grips onto me for a second. “Please don’t tell anyone about this. We don’t want people to think we’re a couple, and god forbid my father finds out.”
I can only imagine what he would think, and the ass chewing he would get from my dad. He’s very old-fashioned, so Elijah and I screwing with no intention of being together. I think it would give him a stroke.
“I figured as much. Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.”
Erin and I say our goodbyes as I pull into the parking garage of Westbrook Enterprise. I find a spot close to the elevator and park. When I turn the car off, I exhale deeply, my eyes catching on my reflection in the rearview mirror. My hair falls in soft curls down my back. I’ve dolled myself up a little and put on a sundress. I tell myself it isn’t for Elijah, but it totally is.
I want him to notice me, see me like I see him. Entering the building, I head for the elevator and smooth a hand over the wrinkles in my dress. I have to remind myself that this is all for show, it’s nothing but pretend. We aren’t together and there will never be a romantic future for us. As soon as I exit the elevator and enter the floor, he sticks his head out of his office and says “hi.” I don’t miss the way his mouth hangs open like a fish, or how wide his blue eyes are. Time stands still… his gaze burning a path of fire up and down my body. He clears his throat, and I notice the way he reaches for his cock through his dress slacks, adjusting himself.
“I think I am going to need to see you in my office, Miss Renshaw.”
“Me?” I say innocently, batting my eyelashes at him. He licks his lips, that pink tongue of his darting out over the full bottom one and I want to kiss him.
“Yes, I have a very important matter to discuss with you.” I blink, suddenly concerned.
“Oh, okay. I’ll be there in five. Just let me put my stuff down real quick.”
“No... this needs your immediate attention. I need you… in here, right now,” he growls. There’s an urgency to his voice, and it blankets me, causing goosebumps to form over my flesh.
Hanging up my purse over my chair, I head into his office, my steps slow, my hips deliberately swaying with each precise step I take. I keep my gaze straight ahead, on the sleek floor to circling glass windows that overlook the city.
“You said it was immediate, what do you need?” My womb quivers, my panties growing wet as I wait for him to answer me. The door closes behind us and I hear the lock clicking into place. Oh shit. Twisting around, I find him stalking toward me like a wildcat on the prowl, while I stand there frozen like the prey.
“On my desk, Miss Renshaw,” he orders.
“On?” I slowly swallow, he doesn’t actually think we’re doing this right here and right now, does he?
“Yes, you heard right. I want you on your back, on my desk.” His hands circle my hips and he gently pushes me backward and toward his desk. My feet move on their own while I try and come up with something to say, anything to stop this from happening here. It’s wrong... so very wrong, but fuck if it doesn’t feel right.
“I have an appointment in ten minutes, so we are going to need to make this quick,” he says, leaning down to plant a kiss against my collarbone. “Sit on the edge of the desk and spread your legs for me.”
Reaching out for him, I pull him flush to my chest, wanting to feel all his hard edges against my soft ones. “Should we really do this here? What if someone hears or sees me coming out of your office?”
“Then they do. I don’t really fucking care right now. Get your ass up on the desk before I put your ass up on the desk.” There’s an impatient bite to his words and I follow his command without another word, hopping up onto the heavy wooden desk. My ass cheeks haven’t even fully pressed against the cool wood and he’s reaching for the hem of my dress and folding it up all the way to my waist.
“Such a dirty fucking girl…” he murmurs, licking his lips before slipping a hand into my hair. He holds me in place, his fingers threading through the strands as he descends on my lips. He kisses me like he’s starved for air, like he can’t get enough of me.
When he releases me, my lips are swollen, and my heart is hammering against my rib cage. Reaching for the button on his pants, he undoes them, pushing them down his legs and freeing his very hard cock. The head is red, and he looks like he might be in pain.
“I’ve wanted to fuck you all morning, and then you show up in that dress, shaking your hips, with your hair curled, and your bedroom eyes on.” He hisses, his muscles tightening with sexual tension. “Tell me you want me to fuck you... tell me, Sunflower.” The plea falls from his lips and I nod my head.
“Yes, fuck me.” I moan and without nothing more than a grin on his lips, he slides my lace panties to the side. A thick digit skims over my already wet folds and I find myself spreading my legs wider, giving him better access to my pussy.
“Fuck me, I knew you would be wet already,” he groans and lines himself up with my entrance, his cock brushing against it. “I’m going to fuck you hard and quick. If you don’t want anyone to hear you, then cover your mouth.” He gives me a hard look, an unknown emotion flickering in his depths before he slams into me, the thrust knocking the breath out of my lungs and making me sink my nails into his shirt-covered shoulder.
“Elijah…” I pant. Every thrust harder than the next. It feels like he’s trying to fuck himself through me, like he’s trying to embed a piece of himself inside me. I hold on to his shoulders, while he maintains an iron grip on my hips, pulling me onto his cock, every time he pushes into me. He’s so deep inside that I can feel him in my belly.
Pleasure prickles every nerve ending on my body. The coil deep inside me twists and twist until the tension is so great, I’m certain I’ll explode. Without warning, I start to come. The muscles in my pussy clenching and coating his length with my release.
Gushing all over his cock, I can feel our juices coating him. I can barely breathe, all I can do is hold on to Elijah while he fucks me through it, thrusting to the finish line. My pussy is still contracting from my own orgasm when he grunts and stills inside, shooting sticky ropes of hot cum deep into my channel.
“Shit…” He grunts while carefully sliding out of me. I wince, but not because I’m in pain, but because I want him to stay inside of me. There is nothing like sex with Elijah, nothing in the world.
“You okay?” he asks, his gaze softening while tucking himself back in.
“Yes, great actually… I want more.” My words leave my mouth and he chuckles softly.
“Such a greedy girl. I promise to fuck you extra slow later, but I wasn’t joking, Sunflower. I have an appointment walking in any minute now.” He grabs a tissue from a drawer in his desk and starts wiping my still overly sensitive flesh with it.
“Mr. Westbrook, your nine o’clock is here,” a voice comes over the phone speaker. I’m so startled, I almost fall off the desk. Elijah doesn’t seem fazed at all though and casually walks around and pushes the call button on the phone.
His eyes stay on mine for a long moment. “Please send him in.” I shake my head, sliding off the desk and letting my dress fall back down into place. I’m still running my palms down the front to straighten out the material when a knock funnels into the room. Why did I let him fuck me on his desk? Because you can’t get enough of him, idiot.
We both walk to the door where Elijah unlocks it and pulls it open. I don’t need a mirror to see that my face is fire hydrant red. I can feel the burning flesh all the way up to my hairline.
Scurrying away with a smile, I he
ad back to my desk while Elijah greets his appointment and ushers him into the room and over to the desk, the same desk that my bare ass just sat on while I got thoroughly fucked.
The day started out so great, unfortunately, it didn’t end the same way. I stare down at my shaking hands. I’m tired. I’m cold, and now I have to find another place to live for the foreseeable future because my upstairs neighbor fell asleep in her bathtub, overflowing the thing and in turn, giving my entire apartment a thorough soaking of its own.
Which leads me to where I am right now, standing outside Elijah’s apartment door. I was supposed to be here over three hours ago, but water damage tends to slow you down. I try to call him, but his phone went straight to voicemail. So either it’s dead, or he is pissed and turned the damn thing off.
This sticky feeling coats my insides when I lift my hand to knock on the door. I don’t know why I feel like I’m going to barf. My knuckles nearly graze the wood when the sound of footsteps approaching the door, accompanied by Elijah’s voice, meets my ears.
I’m baffled, my brows pinch together in confusion and I can’t make out what he is saying, but it sounds like he might be on the phone or something. I would have believed that, had I not heard a second voice a moment later, followed by a high-pitched giggle.
What the hell? All I can think of are worse case scenarios. He didn’t actually invite another woman to his apartment because I was late? Did he? My heart stills in my chest and a deep ache resonates through my bones. It feels like someone ripped out my heart and stomped it into the dirt. The ground seems to shake underneath me.
I should leave, walk away before it’s too late, before he sees me out here eavesdropping. I twist around to leave, my foot mid-step when the door to Elijah’s apartment swings opens, the dim lighting from inside projecting upon me like a light on a stage.
Jealousy as hot as the damn sun fills every fiber of my body, every vein, even my bones when I see the long-legged blonde standing next to Elijah on the other side of the door. The bitch is smiling, her eyes giving away her intentions, or she was smiling, until she sees me.
“Bailey?” My eyes move from the blonde and back to Elijah who looks surprised to see me, his eyes widening as they move up and down my disheveled form.
That’s right, fucker, try and explain this one.
“Rhonda, this is Bailey, the designer for the new club. Bailey, this is Rhonda, the architect,” he introduces us, and I can’t help myself, the emotionless look just jumps onto my face. I remember her, she came to his office about a week or so ago. That doesn’t explain why she’s here now though.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Bailey. I look forward to getting to know you better. I’m sure we’ll be working together often in the near future.” The witch smiles at me, but it’s fake. I can see it from a million miles away, her fake smile, her fake nails. Suddenly, I’m reminded all over again how I’m nothing like the women Elijah usually goes for. I’m not tall, tan, or toned. I’m Folger’s coffee, and she’s Starbucks.
Tears burn at the back of my eyes. Gritting my teeth, I try and shove the thoughts away. My eyes hone in on her hand. It lingers on Elijah’s bicep for far too long and I clench my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms in an effort to stop myself from removing her hand myself. I don’t say anything, not a single word, as she says goodbye, and slips past me and into the hallway. It might be childish, but I don’t give a fuck.
Elijah motions for me to come in. I walk across the threshold with barely controlled anger simmering in my veins.
Who does he think he is?
Again, I try and remind myself that I have no right to be jealous. He wasn’t doing anything with her, right? It was probably just work-related, I tell myself, but my stupid heart tells me that something is up with each beat.
My stomach is currently twisted into painful nervous knots. If it was work-related, why did she come to his place instead of the office? I’m standing in the middle of his living room, blind fury funneling through me.
He’s not yours, Bailey. He doesn’t want you like that.
“Sunflower?” He steps into view, his body directly in front of mine, forcing me to see him, really see him. His features are soft, concern etched into the creases on his forehead.
“Are you sleeping with her?” I ask, unable to hold my tongue a second longer. Elijah looks at me like I’ve slapped him across the face, bewilderment filling his eyes.
“What the fuck, Bailey? The only person I’ve had sex with is you, and I told you I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. What’s gotten into you?” His nostrils flare, and he grips at the back of his head before shaking it. “We said no jealousy, and I don’t know if you know this but the way you’re acting looks a lot like jealousy.”
“I know…” I drop my gaze to the wood floor. “I’m not doing this on purpose, okay? I had a long day and then I get here and see her… a woman that looks just like your cup of tea. She’s grabbing your arm and looking at you like she is about to climb you like a tree.” Shaking my head, causing a cascade of brown locks to cover my face, I take a step backward. I shouldn’t be here. This is wrong. “Listen, this is a bad idea… I’m sorry. I’ll just go and stay with my dad for a few days.”
“Wait…” Elijah calls out, reaching out for me, his fingers wrapping around my elbow. “Stay with your dad? What’s going on? Are you okay? Did something happen?”
Did something happen? I nearly snort.
“My apartment is flooded. It looks like a damn hurricane made landfall inside it. The lady upstairs fell asleep in the tub and the water leaked through the floor and directly into my place. I was going to ask you if I could stay with you, but clearly that’s a stupid idea, so I’ll just stay with my dad and make the two hour round trip from his house and back to the office every day.”
I’m so caught up in my head that I start speaking my thoughts out loud. “I suppose I could rent a hotel room, but what’s the point of working all week when all I’ll be doing is paying the weekly rate.” I keep rambling on while Elijah stands there in silence, his fingers burning into my bare flesh, still looking more than a little pissed about the whole situation.
“You don’t even have to ask me, you know you can stay here. As long as you need or want too. My home is your home, Sunflower.” His words find me through the fog of anger and jealousy. I don’t understand why I’m having all these stupid emotions at once.
Then again, I do. Spending every day with Elijah and every night in his bed doesn’t help things. Our arrangement was only sex, and yet we end up eating dinner each night together. We laugh and joke like friends, but have sex like lovers, and to any woman, that would be confusing.
Warm hands cradle my cheeks, forcing my head up. My eyes locking on Elijah’s. “What are you thinking about?”
“I… I don’t think this is working, Elijah. My emotions are all over the place. When I’m away from you, I crave you, when I’m with you, I want you closer.” My voice cracks, and it feels like my heart does at the same time.
“Don’t say that. You’re just stressed out right now. It’s going to be okay... you can stay here. We can continue doing what we’re doing. It’s been great so far, hasn’t it?”
It has… but what if it’s not enough for me? I don’t say that though, because I’m not ready to let him go. The thought of even doing so makes me sick.
“Can I stay in the spare room?” I question, feeling like I’ve been hit by a semi. If he says no, then I’ll have no choice but to get a hotel. I won’t be able to sleep in bed with him tonight without caving, without giving in to his touch.
“Of course, though you know my bed is always open to you.”
Don’t tempt me. A small smile tugs at my lips and I let him press a kiss to my forehead before releasing me. I almost sag to the floor at the loss of his touch, but somehow manage to stay upright. I’m beyond tired, and with my emotions spiraling out of control like a B2 bomber, sleep is what I definitely need.
&n
bsp; “Also, I left my suitcase in the car. I didn’t want to bring it up before actually asking you if I could stay.”
“I’ll get it, you go and relax. Take a bath or whatever you want to do.”
“I think I’m going to go crawl into bed and go to sleep. I’m way too exhausted to shower and the thought of going near water right now makes me mental.”
Elijah looks defeated by my statement but doesn’t do anything else, thankfully. I don’t have it in me tonight to fight with him. I just need a good night’s sleep and to forget about all the events that took place today, good and bad. If only I could forget the fact that I’m falling deeper in love with my best friend.
12
Elijah
Sleep. What is that? I didn’t sleep even a wink last night. It’s impossible to do anything without Bailey now and knowing that she was sleeping in the room across the hall had me on edge to say the least.
All I could think about was slipping out of my bed and finding my way into hers. She belonged in my bed, her tiny body wrapped around mine. I tried like hell to fall asleep last night, but all I could think about was her face when she told me she couldn’t do this anymore.
What the hell am I going to do if she ends this, whatever the hell it is between us? With each day that passes, the lines grow more and more blurred. Bailey is slowly becoming a drug that I can’t get enough of. I need her like a crack addict needs crack. Maybe the twelve-step program is what I need?
Would I let her go if she tells me she is done? Or would I give in to the desire to make her mine? I’m so fucking afraid of hurting her, but more than that, I’m afraid of getting hurt myself.
I’m on my third coffee and I’m still having a hard time concentrating on my morning appointments. I can’t wait for lunch to roll around. I think I’m going to take a nap instead of eating because God knows when I get home tonight, I won’t be getting any sleep.