Chapter 21: Natalie
My heart began to race as I opened the breakroom fridge. Major had started to leave notes in my lunchbox, and I wanted to know what todays said.
Eat your vegetables.
-M
The brownie I brought had been replaced by a bag of baby carrots. He must have noticed I never packed anything healthy. I just found most vegetables absolutely disgusting, and didn’t get the diet crazes. Gluten-free, GMO-free, taste-free food that costs a ridiculous amount of money. I’d take French fries over quinoa any day.
My toes tapped from irritation. I had really been looking forward to that brownie. But now I was eating a bag of carrots for dessert—gross.
I cursed under my breath as I walked out of the breakroom. It couldn’t have even been a good vegetable, like corn or potatoes. He had to put a disgusting one in there. I didn’t care if carrots were good for my eyes; modern medicine had evolved enough that I could get Lasik.
I sat at my desk and held a carrot in front of my face. Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad. I hadn’t eaten one in a year, so it was possible my taste buds had changed. Praying for the best, I took the smallest bite possible. A foul taste filled my mouth, and I immediately regretted it. They were still as disgusting as I remembered.
The taste lingered in my mouth and I chugged my water, desperately trying to get rid of it. The way I was gulping was reminiscent of Michaela and me in our college days. Hell, I’d have been willing to chug vodka to get this taste out.
As I unwrapped a power bar to mask the taste, my office phone began to ring. I’d have to deal with this garbage in my mouth a bit longer.
RESTRICTED displayed on the caller ID. It was a bit odd; I rarely get outside calls.
“This is Natalie Lane.”
“Did you like the new addition to your lunch?”
“Major?!”
“Yes?”
“How did you know I was eating?” I jumped up and ran around my desk, dragging the phone with me. I stretched the cord to its full length so I could pop my head out of my office.
Major burst out laughing. “Get back in your office, you look like an idiot.”
“You can see me?” My voice was a combination of a shout and whisper.
“Yes, I can see you. And you look crazy to other people. Get back in your office.”
I did look insane. None of my other coworkers stuck their heads out and looked around like wild people. Defeated, I walked back to my desk.
“Thanks for the brownie, by the way. It was delicious. Did you make it?”
“No.” I was still angry that it was gone but knowing that Major ate it made it a bit better. “I can’t cook. I buy them from a bakery by my house.”
“Shame. I’ll cook for you if you ever find out who I am.”
My face flushed. Major wanted to cook for me. The gesture was so… romantic. And right now, that wouldn’t have been the best word to describe our relationship.
“I’ll find out,” I whispered. “And don’t take my brownie. I’ll bring two tomorrow.”
“Okay, but you still have to eat your carrots. I saw the way you were looking at them.”
“You’re that close?” I screeched into the phone.
Major was close enough to see through the two windows of my office. The only possible way to see into my office is if you’re in the accounting or marketing department. Meaning, it would be easier for me to hunt him down.
“Maybe I rearrange my day to be around you, maybe I’m that close. You’ll have to find out.”
I rubbed my temples in an attempt to curb my frustration. Maybe it wouldn’t be as simple as searching through those two departments. “You can be a royal pain in the ass.”
“But I’m your pain in the ass. I have to go—make sure to eat those carrots, or I’ll take both brownies tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
He let out a cackle. “I’ll see you Friday.”
“See you then.” Reluctantly, I dropped my phone back in the cradle.
The sound of his voice was so familiar. The timbre in his voice was deep, but he never sounded overly serious. His laugh had a gentle reverberation to it. I couldn’t place a finger on it—maybe I’d overheard him in the office but wasn’t paying attention to who was talking. My thoughts drifted to all the possible people it could be, but I came up empty handed.
I really didn’t want to eat the carrots. If I closed my blinds and hid them in my purse, Major would be none the wiser. I shook my head. He’d figure it out somehow. Major had watched me get my lunch and examine the carrot. He was probably still watching now, seeing if I put them in my mouth. I glanced out my office window, examining the sea of cubicles. My frustration increased when no one was looking my way.
I held my breath as I popped a carrot in my mouth. My face crinkled in disgust—these had to be the worst tasting things known to man.
“Stupid jerk,” I muttered, shoving a handful of carrots in my mouth.
But that stupid jerk had me going crazy over him.
* * *
I had high tailed it to Vertigo on Friday. Now, Major was running his fingers through my hair as I laid across his lap.
“I tried all week to figure out who you were,” I grumbled.
“I know.” He let out a laugh. “It’s funny watching you.”
At least he was enjoying this. I was going out of my mind trying to figure out who he was. There were ten thousand employees at IY Games, so this wasn’t the easiest task. There was a higher chance he worked on my floor, but workers from the second floor often came to our breakroom because of overcrowding. I’d even seen badges from people who work in the call center, and they were on the first floor. Major could be in any department in the company.
“Are you on the third floor?” I asked.
“I’m not going to give you any hints. You have to figure it out on your own.”
Ten thousand employees. My week was extremely busy, so I’d only been able to talk to six guys that resembled Major. I’d been able to rule out four by the sound of their voices, and the other two by asking questions that I knew the answers to.
“Not fair.” I flipped over so my face was in his lap.
He started running his hand along the curvature of my spine. “Life isn’t fair sometimes.”
“I know that.”
His body tensed. What was I thinking, referencing my dead family? I had just made the situation completely awkward.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it was my fault.” Talking into his legs muffled my voice. “Sorry.”
“No.” Major picked me up so I was leaning into his arms. “I don’t think before I speak sometimes.”
I shook my head. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have. “Did you like the brownies I left for you?”
“They’re delicious. You’re going to make me fat if you leave me one every day.”
“You’re going to make me healthy if you make me eat carrots every day.”
Major had left a bag of carrots in my lunch box the entire week. I’d had to force myself to eat the things. On Wednesday, I got smart and brought a container of ranch. On Thursday, Major caught on and threw it away. He said I had to learn to like vegetables by themselves.
“Next week, it’s going to be a different vegetable. Brace yourself.” He tapped the tip of my nose with his finger.
“Gross. You’re getting the better deal out of this.”
“Maybe. But you’re twenty-nine and won’t eat salad. I’m going to force you to like them.”
He was right. I was almost thirty and had the palate of a thirteen-year-old. Possibly younger than that, actually. A pre-teen might eat salad. I would pick not eating dinner over eating a salad.
“We’ll see about that.”
“Oh, you’ll like them. Or I won’t cook for you if you find out who I am.”
“When,” I corrected him.
“Okay, when.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out something small and silky. “I brought this for you. Well, us.”
It was a sleeping mask. I cocked my head, a silent signal for further explanation.
“A more convenient way for you to not see my face.” He took the mask and put it over my eyes. “Is it in place? I don’t want it falling off.”
I wanted it to fall off. It would be much easier than combing through ten thousand employees. I could knock the elastic out of place so it would fall off. No, Major would see right through that.
“It’s fine.”
“Okay, good.” He picked me up and laid me on the floor. I heard a gentle snap as he removed his mask. God, I wanted to peek so bad.
Major’s fingers gently traced my abdomen as they ascended towards my chest. He gave each nipple a light tweak as he passed my breasts but continued to work his way upwards.
He was moving the opposite direction from what I wanted. I had an ache between my thighs, and it drove me insane that he wasn’t taking care of that.
He finally stopped his ascent and caressed his thumb along my lips. There was a momentary pause before he crashed his lips against mine. Major had never kissed me before. The two of us had been wearing our masks, a barrier that forbade our lips from touching. It was as if we were doing something taboo. Something out of bounds for our glory hole relationship.
The kiss was slow at first. I would even describe it as a bit awkward, which was a bit ironic. We had explored every crevice of the other’s body, but a simple kiss had us flustered. Our lips soon became in sync, and a jolt of electricity ran down my spine.
Our kisses increased in intensity, and soon he was kissing me with a reckless abandon I didn’t know existed. What I did know was that I could stay in this moment forever.
His tongue ran along my lower lip, asking for entry. I moaned into his mouth as he explored the unknown territory. My hands fumbled for his head so I could wrap my fingers through his thick hair. I ended up poking his ear—I couldn’t see with the sleeping mask—but I soon had my hands entangled in his hair, pulling him closer to me.
Major absorbed all of my senses. I could get drunk from the taste of his lips. The fresh smell of his cologne was a pheromone tailored specifically to me. He made my body melt with the way he touched me. And his voice sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t see him though, so I supposed it was only four out of five. But when I do see him—I know it’s going to be wonderful.
The intensity of our kiss made me pull back, gasping for air. He moaned into my lips, a plea for me to come back. It took no convincing, and my lips were back on his. He gently nibbled on my lower lip.
The way Major kissed me made the ache between my thighs stronger. I wrapped my legs around him, grinding my core against the bulge into his pants.
“More,” I begged.
“Mhm.” Major trailed kisses along my jawline and took a playful nip at my ear.
“Quit teasing.” Clothes had become the enemy. I rocked into him, cursing the barrier between our bodies.
“Good things come to those who wait.” He said, unzipping my dress.
“So, you’re a philosopher now?”
“I’ll be anything you want me to be.” He yanked my dress off, my panties sliding with it.
He trailed quick kisses from my chest to my stomach. No matter the pace, Major would always stop at my birthmark. He loved the way it looked and always told me how beautiful it was.
He glided his tongue around the circumference, appreciating every inch. He brought his lips to the center and sucked, and the sensation made me gasp.
“So cute,” he murmured.
I was too overwhelmed by sensation to respond. He lightened his kisses and continued his way down to my sex. He paused as he reached the front, and I felt his heated breath on the outside of my core.
“What are you doing?” My frantic voice hit a high octave. I didn’t know why he had stopped. Surely, he knew how turned on I was.
“Teasing you a bit.” He placed gentle kisses on the inside of my thighs. “You know, I like knowing I’m the only man to put his face here. I’m the only one who has tasted you, Nat.”
I was so turned on, and Major talking to me like that didn’t help. “I swear to God I’m going to—” I started but was interrupted by him plunging his tongue against my clit. “Yes. Yes.”
His tongue flicked across my swollen nub, and I instantly knew I wasn’t going to last. The way he had kissed me already had me at the edge. I just needed that last touch to get me to my release. He began to lick me with more intensity, and finally the pleasure was too much to bear.
“Major!” I gripped at non-existent sheets as I cried his name, trying to anchor myself. When my reach turned up useless, Major held me in place as I rode out my orgasm.
He licked the inside of my thighs, not wanting to let any of my essence go to waste. “Have I ever told you that I love how you taste?”
“Mmpf.” I was so fatigued from my climax I couldn’t form an answer.
“Here.” He crushed his lips back to mine, letting me taste myself. “A bit like pineapples. But it’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.”
I was both embarrassed and aroused by his words. He let out a small laugh at my embarrassment and deepened the kiss. Heat rushed through me, and I molded my body into his.
He ran his hand down my leg, a silent command to wrap them around him. Our cores met and I ran my pussy along the length of his shaft. I was just screaming his name and I was already hungry for him again.
I let out a whimper as Major eased into me. We’d had sex countless times, and the first time he entered never failed to blow my mind. His dick was, for lack of better words, huge. He was blessed with both girth and length.
Major’s hand wrapped around the small of my back, and the other found its way behind my head. He brought his lips to mine as he slowly began to move in and out of me. When he didn’t increase his speed, I thrusted my hips in an attempt to pick up the tempo.
The hand that was around my back moved to hold my hips in place. “Be still.” He rested his lips against mine as he spoke.
I nodded and let him control the pace. I couldn’t see him, but I could definitely feel him. His soft lips against mine, the way his hands ran over my body, and the way he moved in me.
He never broke our kiss as he rocked in and out of me, filling every inch. It wasn’t the type of sex we usually had, which was primitive and filled with fervor. This was slow and gentle, cherishing every inch of the other’s body.
“Nat,” he whispered in my ear. He began to chant my name, like it was a secret spell only the two of us knew.
I tried to fend off my climax, not wanting to end the trance we were in. But the pleasure was too much to bear, and I shuddered, clinging to him like my life depended on it. He whispered my name one last time before following me, his hand digging into my hip so hard it physically hurt.
We held each other in silence, placing tender kisses on one another. There was an unspoken need to make up for all the kisses lost, and there were only a couple hours to get them in. But it also felt like something should be said, something acknowledging what had just happened. I tried to formulate a sentence that was neither too heavy nor too light. Nothing came to mind.
“So, are you excited for next week’s vegetable?” He chuckled, tapping his finger on my nose.